Life, 1902-06-19 · page 20 of 20
Life — June 19, 1902 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward product advertisement from *Life* magazine (June 19, 1902). The page promotes Crawford brand shoes for men and women at $3.50, positioning them as affordable alternatives to expensive custom-made footwear from New York, London, and Paris. The ad emphasizes value: same styles, workmanship, and materials as high-end shoes at a fraction of the cost. Style 178, a "Button Oxford" for men made of patent calf leather, is featured prominently. The company offers a free art catalogue and guarantees satisfaction with a money-back promise. The appeal is to middle-class consumers seeking quality footwear without luxury pricing—a common marketing strategy of the Gilded Age. The multiple store locations (New York, Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn) and mail-order option reflect growing retail modernization.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
June 19, 1902, Che wford Shee FOR MEN AND WOMEN $3.50 Seasonable Shoe Notes Now is the time to wear Oxfords and none are better than the Crawford. 61 fashionable shapes for men and women. The Crawford is the only shoe made in the same styles and with the same workmanship and materials as the highest priced New York, London and Paris cus- tom made shoes. The sole leather in the Crawford Shoes is, and always has been, the best that money could buy. Style 178. For Men . Satisfaction , : guaranteed or money refunded Our New Button Oxford A fasbionable, comfortable shoe for men. Made of famous Patent Calf, with dull kid top, heavy single sole. Crawford famous Art Plate FREE catalogue — 15 rich water- color sketches sent for the asking. Just drop postal. THE CRAWFORD SHOE MAKERS Men's Stores Women's Stores 93-05 Nassau St, New York. 903 Pennsyivania Ave., Washington 187 Fulton St., New York. 908 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, SA West 23d St, New York. 8 E, Baltimore St., Baltimore. b4 Weat 23d St, New York. 208 E. Baltimore St,, Baltimore. 150 West 125th York. St, and 72 Mason St, i €25 Broadway, New York, 169 Tremont St., Boston, 150 W. 125th St., New York. 100 Summer St., Boston, 433 Fulton St., Brooklyn. 433 Fulton St., Brooklyn. 1120 Cheetnat St., Philadelphia, 189 Broadway, Brooklyn. 1120 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. 189 Broadway, Brooklyn. Mail Order Department, Room 38, 140 Duane Street, New York City, U. S, A. FACTORIES: New York City; Brockton, Mass. PREBS OF THE J. W, PRATT CO, NEW YORK, comicbooks.com