Life, 1928-01-05 · page 3 of 34
Life — January 5, 1928 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **commercial advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. The illustration shows a domestic scene: women having tea/coffee while viewing automobiles through a window—a 1920s marketing appeal to female consumers during the automobile boom. The advertising copy emphasizes Timken Bearings' five key selling points: durability, performance, economy, quiet operation, and simplicity. The text argues that bearings are crucial car components, enduring wear from friction, side-thrust, shock, weight, and speed. By claiming "the salesman is playing your game" when pitching Timken Bearings, the ad suggests the manufacturer understands consumer priorities. This represents typical 1920s-era advertising strategy: targeting middle-class families with lifestyle imagery while explaining technical product benefits in accessible language.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
W Durability, Performance, Economy, Permanent Quiet and Simplicity are the points the car salesman makes when he says “Timken Bearings”. The importance of those words is clear when you real- ize that it is the bearings which are finally responsible for carrying all the motion. Timkens are the bearings which take most wear out of motion because they take out not only the threat of fric- tion, but the threat of side-thrust, shock, weight and speed. You know the salesman is playing your game when he says “Timken Bearings”. THE TIMKEN ROLLER BEARING CO., CANTON, OHIO 6ivstd TIMKEN 2, BEARINGS LIFE: Published Weekly by Life Pub, Co_ 508 Madison Ave N.Y, N. Y. Subeeription, $5.00, Vol, 01, No, 2357, Jan.6,1928 Bat’d an 2nd Clam Matter, June & 1889, at New York Post tien ubder act of March, 18/8. Fisted in U-S- A. Hated as 20d Clans Mattar st the Poet OSee Depts Canada. Copyright 1028, Life Fob: One ta U.S ginal and brits Posen comicbooks.com