Life, 1912-07-11 · page 2 of 44
Life — July 11, 1912 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **product advertisement** for the Pro-phy-lac-tic toothbrush, not political satire. The ad emphasizes the brush's superior design: its curved handle and tufted bristles allegedly reach between all teeth, unlike flat-faced competitors. The illustrated woman packing a suitcase for vacation represents the target consumer—middle-class Americans concerned with dental hygiene while traveling. The "joke" is practical rather than satirical: dentists recommend this brush because it cleans thoroughly. The manufacturer (Florence Mfg. Co., Northampton) makes claims typical of early-20th-century advertising—scientific endorsement, competitive superiority, and affordable pricing (25-35¢). There is **no political content**—this is straightforward commercial messaging.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Entered atthe Post Office at New York, N.¥., 38 See Class Mail Matter eans that your teeth will be tists and doctors rec 1 One tooth brush that: thoroughly between a// the teeth, *both=ba ko “A Clean Tooth Never Decays’? You can not clean teeth ‘by brushing ever them. The ordinary, flat- faced tooth brush merely brushes the ‘exposed tooth surfaces. The: Pro-phy-lac-tic gives you direct access to every part of your mouth and really cleans every tooth in your head. ‘ The irregular, tufted bristles of the Pro-phy-lac-tic. get into the crevices. Its curved handle (flexible, if you want it) reaches the back teeth that are beyond the reach of the flat-faced brush: The Pro-phy-lac-tic saves your x gums as well as your teeth. “You can hang it up, it dries quickly, is abso- lutely sanitary. In individual yellow box which protects against handling. Hard, medium and soft -bristle textures. Prices, .25c, 35c, 40c. co ence Mrs, FOREEGHTUSA pecaYs Please, write for a copy of our Interesting Free Book Every Pro-phy-lac-tic guaranteed. .We replace if defective. If your dealer does not sell the Pro-phy-lac-tic we will supply direct... Send his name. Florence Mfg. Co., #7 fits 23th tertamet= Sole Makers of Pro-pby-lac-tle Tooth, Hair, Military and Hand Brushes 4 ft. TH NEVER, tic J C : US-PAT OFF. ye Phy tes q S = rl s 8 & 3 i n & & Py £ < Cc x 3 « v & s = Ss QI = & gi jolz Q3 comicbooMeeat