Life, 1909-04-29 · page 2 of 28
Life — April 29, 1909 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. The Rubberset Company is advertising their shaving brush and soap products. The "oldest doggone advertising idea in the world" refers to the visual gimmick itself—using a bull dog held aloft to demonstrate product durability. The ad claims this is an actual photograph of a real bulldog and Rubberset brush to prove the brush's bristles cannot be pulled or twisted out, unlike ordinary brushes. The accompanying text emphasizes durability: the bristles are set in vulcanized rubber that is "water-proof, soap-proof, alkali-proof, wear-proof." The page includes pricing ($1-$6) and retail information. There is no political or social satire here—it's straightforward vintage advertising using a memorable visual concept (holding a dog by its collar) to advertise grooming products.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
If your face is tender. If your lather dries and tickles. It your face feels drawn and sore after shaving There's a luxurious shave waiting for you when you use BERS 1 ving Crear composed of Glycerine and Cocoanut Oil. Prevents dryness — is antiseptic and soothing — contains no free alkali. dealer’s name and 4 cents for 10 cent sample tube. THE RUBBERSET COMPANY Eatered at the Pos c Copyriah, 190%, by This is the Oldest “Doggone” Advertising Idea In the World The reason this illustration is used is because it is a real photograph of a real Bull Dog and a real Rubberset Shaving Brush. It shows that the bristles of a Rub- berset Shaving Brush can not even be pulled or twisted out of the setting, while those of an ordinary brush just fall out when the rosin, cement or glue setting is softened by hot water. The bristles of a RUBBERSE TRADE MARK Shaving Brush are held in a solid bed of hard, vul- canized rubber — water-proof, soap- proof, alkali-proof, wear-proof. You can boil a Rubberset if you like — it does it good. Rubberset Brushes are patented and are the only brushes held in hard rub- ber. Look for the name on every brush. Every Rubberset Shaving Brush is guaranteed never to lose a bristle from its setting. At all dealers’ and barbers’, all styles and sizes, 25, 50, 75 cents to $6.00, To the average man we commend the $1.00 brush. THE RUBBERSET COMPANY Sales Dept. No. 9 Main Office, Factory and Laboratory: 5204 METROPOLITAN TOWER, NEWYORK CITY 102 FERRY ST., NEWARK, NJ. Branch Offices — Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Montreal SE? DI GR comicbooks.com