industrial humor? Is this some kind of joke?

aviation progress
Germany 1927

auto megalomania
Germany 1908

'Old Doc Yak' 
Chicago Tribune
1912-17

Archie's jalopy Betsy 
PEP comics #25
March 1942

Durchgeknallt
by Frode Øverli
January 2010

Perscheids Abgründe
by Martin Perscheid
January 2010

bicycle mania
Germany 1894

aviation mania
Germany 1909

locomotive smoke
Germany 1894

horse-drawn trolley
Germany 1894

EUREKA
metal fatigue
1989

1922 R.M.S. 'Tyrannic' 
Official Ship's Guide
National Lampoon
April 1974