Life, 1909-10-07 · page 44 of 44
Life — October 7, 1909 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement** for Pro-phy-lactic toothbrushes, not political satire. The page shows Uncle Sam as a cheerful pitchman in patriotic dress (starred top hat, striped pants), endorsing an American-made product. The illustration leverages **nationalist marketing**: the text emphasizes the brush is "Made in America By Americans Under American Sanitary Conditions"—appealing to early 1900s consumer pride in domestic manufacture and anxieties about foreign goods or unsanitary production. Uncle Sam's presence suggests the advertiser is claiming the product represents American values and quality. The small mention of an included "Picture Puzzle" featuring "Uncle Sam in the Pacific" appears to reference American imperial expansion, though details are unclear. This reflects 1909 consumer culture rather than satire—using patriotic imagery to sell mundane hygiene products.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
October 7, 1909 THE WORLD’S BEST TOOTH BRUSH Made in America By Americans Under American Sanitary Conditions HE Pro-phy-lac-tic Tooth Brush cleans the teeth; the shaped ‘bristle and curved, beveled, taper-pointed handle enable it to reach every part of the mouth, to penetrate the crevices in and between the teeth, which are the most vulnerable places for decay. There is but one Pro-phy-lac-tic Tooth Brush, but it is made with three kinds of handles :— + ‘This is the original Pro-phy-lac-tic rigi Pro-phy-lac-tic jNiie. ik wil ‘always be preferred thousands of friends and users, Made in three sizes and three bristle textures. Prices, adult’s 35 cents; youth’s and child's 25 cents. 7 +) ‘The handle of this Pro-phy-lacctic is Pro-phy-lac-tic Special jie of white resilient material which bends as the brush is used. Most users, especially those with sensitive gums, are satistied with no other after o wit. Made in three si three bristle textures. Prices, adult’s 35 cents; youth’s and child's 25 cents. an ‘The Pro-phy-lac-tic Tooth Brush with Pro-phy-lac-tic De Luxe ;, cately colored, transparent, flexible | handles—topaz, emerald or ruby, as desired. Your “de luxe’’ Pro-phy- lac-tic is readily identified by the color of the handle. Made in adult's size only. Price yo cents. Library Slip Packed with each Pro-phy- Inc-tic Tooth Brush UNIQUE AND Pi P 1 FOR instauctive F 1Cture UZZIE «¢ cents Subject, "UNCLE SAMIN THE PACIFIC.” Each Packed ina Neat Box FLORENCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 187 Pine Street, Florence, Mass., U.S. A. SOLE MAKERS OF PRO-PHY-LAC-TIC TOOTH, HAIR AND HAND BRUSHES comicbooks.com