Life, 1928-11-02 · page 3 of 48
Life — November 2, 1928 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not satire or a political cartoon**—it's a straightforward **advertisement for Dunlop tires**, specifically their "John Boyd Dunlop" brand super tire. The page honors **John Boyd Dunlop**, the historical founder of the pneumatic tire industry (the bearded figure shown in the portrait). The ad claims Dunlop invented the straight-sided tire and developed rubber plantation technology, positioning the company as tire-industry pioneers. The central image shows the tire itself with its "silvered bead" (a distinguishing feature). The copy emphasizes performance specs: 70-90 mph speeds, high-pressure braking capability, and durability under extreme driving conditions. **For modern readers**: This is vintage product marketing using founder veneration and technological achievement claims to establish brand prestige—common advertising strategy that remains recognizable today.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
T challenges the imagination! It is unlike any other tire! It is acreation embodying the utmost in style and sturdiness. Dunlop’s new super tire with- stands 70-80-90 mile speed... answers the emergency demands of high-pressure four-wheel brakes... insures trouble-free mileage under the most extreme conditions, Even the grind, grind, grind of 24 hour-a-day test driving (three shifts of drivers per car)—onheavy, high-powered cars for 600-700 miles day after day, finds this Dun- lop super tire delivering uninter- tupted service! It is natural that this, the climax of all mankind’s tireemaking endeavors, should be attained by Dunlop. For Dunlop history has sparkled with many epoch-making achievements such as these: FOUNDERS of the pneumatic tire industry. FIRST to develop the straight-side tire. FIRST toown itsown rubber plantations. FIRST to spin its own entire require- ments of cord fabric. DUNLOP presents a super tire Honoring the Industry’s Founder Tire dealers everywhere will rec- ognize the supremacy of this Dun- lop creation. They will not be surprised. They know Dunlop has brought almost every great advancement to the tire industry. The advantage of the world’s greatest tire-building experience belongs to Dunlop. Out of this experience has come this super tire. It is named “The John Boyd Dunlop’—a tire so worthy that it bears this name for the purpose of honoring the man who founded the pneumatic tire industry 40 years ago. This name is the greatest mark of merit a tire could receive. But it justifies such distinction many times over. Its phenomenal ser- vice is so inbuilt... its qualities are so unbelievably outstanding, it deserves the highest honor that can be bestowed. To comprehend “The John Boyd Dunlop,” all former standards of tire performance must be set aside. On your car, this super tire will prove to you the importance of this, the newest of Dunlop's many contributions to tire progress. Know it also by its silvered bead DUNLOP FOUNDERS OF THE PNEUMATIC TIRE INDUSTRY comicbooks.com