Life, 1929-05-17 · page 8 of 52
Life — May 17, 1929 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **car advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes the Franklin automobile, manufactured in Syracuse, New York, highlighting its air-cooling system as a revolutionary feature. The ad uses aspirational imagery: a well-dressed woman in 1920s fashion stands on a Franklin automobile, pointing ahead like a pilot. The accompanying text compares driving the Franklin to "piloting an airplane"—positioning the car as modern, powerful, and thrilling. The "airplane feel" reference emphasizes speed and smooth acceleration ("effortlessly and confidently you control the car"). The ad promises buyers will join an exclusive community of "Franklin enthusiasts." This reflects 1920s marketing tactics: equating automobiles with cutting-edge aviation technology to appeal to consumers seeking status and excitement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
operis the road to new motoring thrills You are driving the Franklin for the first time. “Incomparable,” you say, as you start ahead in second speed, mounting to fifty-five miles an hour— as quietly as in high. There’s a short, easy shift to high and you are even more thrilled! Actually you feel as though you were piloting an airplane. Such a surge of power. The acceleration is amazingly fast. How smooth—like a gliding gull. Relax— you can be more relaxed in the Franklin The AIRPLANE FEEL of the Franklin than in any other car. The riding com- fort is truly restful. Effortlessly and confidently you control the car. Air-cooling has made all this possible. Franklin is first to introduce such a revolutionary and different motor car. Will you drive it? We promise you will not only enjoy it—but you will im- mediately become a life member of the large group of Franklin enthusiasts. FRANKLIN AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, SYRACUSE. The One-Thirty, $2180 + + + The One-Thirty-Five, $2485 + ¢ ¢ The One-Thirty-Seven, $2775 + + + Sedan prices f. 0. b. factory FRANKLIN comicbooks.com