Life, 1909-11-18 · page 33 of 36
Life — November 18, 1909 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising page**, not a satirical cartoon. It contains four luxury product advertisements from the early 20th century: 1. **Baldwin Piano**: Markets pianos as instruments with superior emotional range, referencing Queen Elizabeth's historical spinet to establish prestige and longevity. 2. **Martin & Martin Shoes**: Advertises "fashionable footwear" by emphasizing long-term cost savings ("cost per year" rather than per-pair price)—a practical appeal to middle-class consumers. 3. **Brooks Brothers Clothing**: Promotes ready-made overcoats as custom-quality, hand-cut garments for "the highest class," suggesting mass production rivals bespoke tailoring. 4. **Meriden Silver**: Markets silver gifts as markers of "discriminating taste" and social status, positioning the brand as distinctively exclusive. The page reflects **early 1900s consumer culture**: luxury goods are marketed by emphasizing both quality/exclusivity and value/practicality, targeting aspirational middle-to-upper-class readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
There is Nothing Nebulous About Our Guarantee Our arantee is not one merely of “‘satistaction’’— always an elastic term. We guarantee to save you money on shoes —in addition to giving you—and guaranteeing to you—perfectly dressed feet and perfect foot comfort. Shoe economy is not to be gauged by the price per pair, but by the cost per year. We are prepared to demonstrate to you the dollars “ : SUNT. red and cents economy, by the year, of wearing our 2 back no further than Queen Elizabeth's spinet, It has taken four hundr custom-quality, ready-to-wear shoes. velop that raine of musical resource, The Baldwin Piano Think it over. e—at one's ten Aingers—Is all the plano has known, all the masters have 16 melancholy vibration of the plucked" " : fn Haldwia revels an emotional content ov Tt, 5 tin THe eeteac alter of the narpuchond -imoediare ariin aril ‘of & million hues and limitless range. 1 posit for shades upon shades of expression, and 5 y a by ny 5 ”) V, ihe pomabaity for shades upon shades og zPreaton, na Fashionable Footwear for Men and Women in the history of music. Ready to Wear 7 to 12 dollars win Pian eard anywhere. Adires: ent fe logue y eae Te CG TRR cane ny be beard anywhere, “Address nearest Sent for cones Made to Order 8 to 18 dollars The Baldwin Company | iviiesoen No.1 East 35th Street 183 Michigan Avenue sie Sener Soest NEW YORK CHICAGO Rostoa Denver satingioa Ave. 1426 Calllorais Street “ Over the keyboard of the past will come Perfection" Upon request, we will send photographs for out of town selection Silver Gifts of Grace and Beauty MERIDEN ware, because of its rare quality and exquisite designs, is invariably chosen by purchasers of discriminating taste who desire to make Christmas bestowals of only the best silver. Wty!A Selecting Meriden ware is evidence of excellent — — DS 7 Wl judgment because it is always distinctive in CLOTH I N G | character, distinctive in exclusiveness and charm. aint Both in sterling and silver plate, Meriden Centlemenx Burnishing us ware is to be had in wide variety. Articles i big and little are offered in many patterns so "Stasusnco 8 that satisfactory selection is assured. READY-MADE OVERCOATS. Prices are quite as Each of our overcoats is separately cut by hand. varied as the as- i Ki ted to work- || sortment, making The draping and making are entruste ceriment, | making people of the highest class. tractive to all purses. Many of the fabrics are controlled by us. | This applies to all our goods, whether of TRE MERIDEN CO. | (loternational Silver Oay ‘Soccesser.) | moderate or higher price. 218 FIFTH AVENUE Send for Illustrated Catalogue. ininssas seuuie ew York cin BROADWAY Cor. TWENTY-SECOND ST., NEW YORK comicbooks.com