Life, 1901-02-28 · page 17 of 20
Life — February 28, 1901 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Kodak camera advertisement**, not political satire. The page promotes Eastman Kodak's "Folding Pocket Kodaks" by emphasizing their user-friendly design. The image shows a woman in early 20th-century dress holding a folding camera to her face, demonstrating ease of use. The advertisement's main pitch is that Kodak cameras require "a simple mechanism and freedom from annoying details"—meaning they're designed for ordinary people, not just professionals. The tagline "If it isn't an Eastman, it isn't a Kodak" is a corporate slogan asserting Kodak's market dominance. Prices range from $5 to $35; Brownie cameras cost $1. The ad references an instructional booklet illustrated by photographer Rudolf Eickemeyer Jr., lending artistic credibility. This represents early consumer marketing—positioning photography as accessible to amateurs, particularly women.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
If it isn’t an Eastman, it isn’t a Kodak, A simple mechanism and free- dom from annoying details make picture taking easy and certain with the FOLDING POCKET KODAKS. Ask your dealer or write us for a copy of ‘‘Pocket Kodak Portraiture.” It’s an instructive little book, delightfully illustrated by Rudolf Eickemeyer, Jr. Kodaks, $5-00 to $355.00. Brownie Cameras, $]-90. EASTMAN KODAK CoO., Rocuester. N. Y. comicbooks.com