Judge, 1919-12-13 · page 29 of 36
Judge — December 13, 1919 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **razor advertisement**, not a political cartoon. The page from *Judge* magazine (December 13, 1919) promotes GENCO Razors by the Geneva Cutlery Corporation. The advertisement uses a historical hook: Egyptian razors from the XVIIIth Dynasty (circa 1580 B.C.), displayed at New York's Metropolitan Museum. The copywriter notes these ancient razors were single-bladed—like modern GENCO razors—and argues that this design's persistence across 3,500 years proves its superiority. The illustration depicts barbers at work across different eras, visually connecting ancient and modern shaving practices. The satirical angle is modest: the headline "From the Time of the Pharaohs to Your Shave This Morning" humorously positions a simple morning grooming routine within grand historical sweep. The ad emphasizes that GENCO razors are professional-grade, require proper stropping technique, and remain the choice of experienced barbers—thereby justifying the product's premium position to middle-class male consumers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Note how GENCO Rasors meet the strop {9 Just the proper way to anmure a perfect nage. Ths teve to the edge and guides ft lends backbone ‘on the strop. From the Time of the Pharaohs to Your Shave This Morning N the Vilth Egyptian Room of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, there are two razors belonging to the time of the XVIIIth Dynasty (1580 B.C.). Egyptians of that period shaved not only the face, but the entire head. The man being shaved squatted upon his haunches; the barber had the chair. And the razor then used, was the regular razor used by every barber today. Think of the many different sorts of razors which must have been invented, used for a time, and then dropped even from the long memory of History in the course of those 3499 years. Those ancient razors were single-bladed like GENCO Razors of today. Barbers still use only this one type, because they know, and will tell you if asked, that any blade must be stropped to deliver a perfect shave. Anybody Can Strop a GENCO Razor Three features make stropping it as simple as breathi Its broad back, its carefully concaved surface, and the impor- tant bevel just behind the edge prepare each GENCO to lic against the strop at the correct angle. A few easy strokes and there’s that keen, smoothly cutting edge which every barber knows he must have, Barbers use GENCO Razors, because every one is made of specially wrought steel, that takes quickly a true shaving edge. ‘se a GENCO Razor and save time. You save money. You begin the day with the sort of cool shave that quickens your step and mind. You need a regular razor for a real shave. Your dealer will show you the three GENCO features. Look at the beautiful steel ineach of our razors. We stand solidly behind each—“GENCO Razors must make good or we will.” If your dealer is out of GENCO Razors, write to us, Geneva Cutlery Corporation 48 Gates Avenue Geneva, N. Y. Largest Manufacturers of High-Grade Razors in the World.