Untitled [Open Touring Car with Chauffer and Woman, Akron, Ohio]

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Akron’s impressive growth at the turn of the century was due in large part to the rise of the rubber industry, which, in turn, was linked to the manufacture of bicycles and automobiles. Although bicycles were all the rage, touring automobiles were will still a novelty and an important sign of high social status. It was fairly common for the upper class—including tire manufacturers themselves—to be photographed in their glamorous new cars.