Judge, 1905-03-11 · page 11 of 16
Judge — March 11, 1905 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **consumer fraud exposé disguised as advertising**. Judge magazine is calling out Colgate & Co. for deceptive marketing. The scandal: Colgate sent circulars claiming prominent barbers endorsed their shaving soap as of January 1, 1905. However, several named barbers had **died months before that date**—making their endorsements impossible and fraudulent. The page reproduces angry letters from actual New York barbers (signatures shown) denying authorization and protesting misrepresentation. They're furious their names were used to falsely promote the product. The ironic headline "The Dead Cannot" protest underscores the absurdity: Colgate exploited deceased barbers who couldn't defend themselves or deny the endorsement claims. This page functions as both satire and public warning—Judge exposes corporate dishonesty while Colgate's rebuttal advertisement ironically appears on the same page, attempting damage control by emphasizing their product's quality and legitimacy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Living Barbers Protest--The Dead Cannot. Have YOU been misrepresented ? certain shaving soap manufacturer recently sent broadcast among barbers an advertising circular, containing a long list of prominent barbers throughout the country, who (accord- ing to his statement) were on January Ist. 1905 using and endorsing his shaving soap. This circular having been brought to our attention through the good offices of several of our barber friends, we are surprised and somewhat startled to find among this list not only the names of many of our best customers, but also of several who had died many months before the date of their supposed endorsement. Some of the errors in New York City alone are shown by the reproduced letter bearing the sig- natures of a few well-known barbers whose names appeared on the above mentioned list and who very naturally resent such misrepresentation. Now York, January 9, 1905. iiticeg.Cdigale BS The barbers that use Dear Sire: Any statenent which may appear to the fact that on January lst, 1905, and since that date, I wae L TE’S hot only unauthorized by ae, but is absolutely without any foundution and a, fe pl Tew Acsterdax Hotel, : vneohe SOAP Union Club, U.Y.athletic Club, University Club, Are oll Lor ALIVE, ‘ ) N.Y.Stock Exchange, ¢ F t 7 Too 74 Broadway, eb Yoruerly Stock Exchange, | — d a — mcriosnsexraereaseechanees merits of the best, the most scientific an Giese ‘12 Wall ‘Street economical of all shaving soaps.. Geypt Den Uytual Reserve, COLGATE & CO. Established 1806. Makers of Fine Soaps and Perfumes. not only to their own interests, but to the comicbooks.com