Life, 1927-10-13 · page 3 of 44
Life — October 13, 1927 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising for Timken Roller Bearings**, not political satire. The illustration shows a fashionable woman at a car's steering wheel, with a male salesman or companion gesturing approvingly beside her. The cartoon illustrates the ad's central claim: that Timken Bearings enable "easy steering," allowing women to test-drive cars confidently on showroom floors. The image plays on 1920s-era gender dynamics—it presents women drivers as a selling point, positioning mechanical ease as empowering. The text emphasizes Timken's technical superiority while the visual reinforces the message that their product makes automobile operation accessible to female consumers, a notably progressive marketing angle for the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Easy steering is one mechanical feature madam may test to her own satisfaction right on the sales floor. Just as they take the heavy drag out of steering, Timken Bearings eliminate all possible friction from transmissions, differentials, pinion or worm drives, rear wheels, front wheels, and fans. But Timkens are more than anti-friction bearings. They also protect against the wear of side-thrust, shock and speed, What the salesman says about performance, endurance, economy and freedom from attention means most w hen he assures you that the car has Timken Bearings. The Timken Roller Bearing Co., Canton, Ohio TIMKEN i; BEARINGS comicbooks.com