Life, 1910-11-24 · page 46 of 48
Life — November 24, 1910 — page 46: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Gillette razor advertisement**, not political satire. The illustration shows two well-dressed men examining a razor (left) and their delighted reactions alongside other satisfied male customers (right). The ad targets male gift-givers at Christmas, arguing that men find most holiday presents underwhelming—they accept gifts out of politeness ("takes the will for the deed"). However, a Gillette Safety Razor supposedly appeals to masculine practicality and mechanical sensibility, guaranteeing genuine enthusiasm. The text emphasizes the razor's efficiency, compactness, and quality craftsmanship, offering various models from $5 to $50. It's a straightforward commercial pitch leveraging gender stereotypes: men prefer useful, mechanical gifts over frivolous ones. This reflects early-20th-century consumer marketing that directly addressed male recipients' supposed preferences for practical items.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Razor and you will see him as interested as a boy on Christmas morning. It is a man’s gift that never fails to please. You now he usually feels rather silly over his Christmas presents. He takes the will for the deed. If you want him to enjoy the gift as well as the intent give him a Gillette. The Gillette appeals to his sense of the practical—the mechanical. It is so compact, workmanlike, efficient. It is so all-there and all right. Give him a Gillette and watch G* him a Gillette Safety his face when he opens the package. There are all styles, to suit every need and every purse. The case made of metal, morocco grain leather, real seal or English pig skin; the razor silver or gold plated. You can buy a standard set at $5.00 and a pocket edition at $5.00 to $6.00. Combination and travelers’ sets at $6.00 to $50.00. There are now two sizes of blade packets—12 double-edge blades, $1.00; 6 double-edge blades, 50 cents. Write and we will send you an illus- trated pamphlet. King illile GILLETTE SALES COMPANY, 48 W. Second Street, Boston New York, Times Bldg. Chicago, Stock Exchange Bldg. Gillette Safety Razor, Lid.. Eastern Oitice, Shanghai, China Canadian Office, 63 St, Alerander t.. Montreal London Factories: Boston, Mostreal, Leicester, Berlin, Paris comicbooks.com