Life, 1907-12-05 · page 67 of 68
Life — December 5, 1907 — page 67: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **product advertisement**, not political satire. A man (presumably representing King C. Gillette, the razor's inventor) endorses his safety razor by emphasizing its convenience and superiority over competitors. The pitch targets travelers and businessmen with claims of compactness, requiring no honing or stropping (maintenance steps traditional razors needed), and safety—avoiding the dangers of barbershop tools shared among patrons. The text dismisses imitators as inferior knockoffs. The phrase "loaded to the muzzle with perfection" uses military language, treating the razor as a precision instrument. Holiday gift sets are promoted at various prices. This reflects early-1900s advertising's shift toward emphasizing scientific innovation and hygiene—selling the Gillette as modern, efficient, and sanitary compared to traditional barber services. It's straightforward promotion rather than satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
mL PE-ES Shave Yourself with the “Gillette” Compact? Rather! So much so that when you travel you will hardly Ne ~ miss the corner of the dress suit case in which you tuck away my razor. There is concentrated in this little device of mine a great deal of science. It has taken over 600 operations to bring a Gillette Razor set to its perfect state. I don’t know of a single thing about it to-day that can be improved. It is loaded to the muzzle with perfection, and the minute you takc it out of the box it is ready to go to work for you—no honing—no stropping. Over a million users will attest how well it does its work. A twist of the handle enables you to have as light or as close a shave as you may desire. You cannot scratch or cut yourself LL with it. When you use my razor you are exempt from the dangers that men often encountcr who allow their faces to come in contact with brush, soap and barber shop accessories used on other people. Like all good things, the «*Gillette’? has many imitators. Some of them have been audacious enough to steal some one of the many good points possessed by my razor. il — of them together, however, do nct possess the merits of the GILLIST TE" as it stands perfeéted to-day. )AD When you buy a safety razor get the best—the “GILLEITE.? Tt will last you for the rest of your life. It is not a toy—it will always give you complete satisfa€tion. The double-edged, flexible blades arc so incxpensive that when they become dull you throw them away as vou would anold tLe RAILS pen. Kngthi ip the ’ The Gillette Safety Razor set consists of a triple silver-plated holder, 12 double-edged blades (24 keen edges), packed ina velvet-lincd leather case me. and the price is $5.00 at all thelead- elcome ing Jewelry, Drug, Cutlery, Hard- es, the < ware and Sporting Goods Dealers. et a . rege AN IDEAL HOLIDAY : GIFT d é 4 j Combination Sets ng an ; from $6.50 to $50.00 gs and : oe : , «dt ber lor Oe sre are Bi " m and write us at once for added . 7 " our booklet and free triel offer. sie GILLETTE SALES CO. wunier 228 Times Building, .. New York City y class that it ——— nmand. ylvania art you VA /NO STROPPING NO HONING comicbooks.com