Life, 1914-09-10 · page 48 of 48
Life — September 10, 1914 — page 48: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **commercial advertisement**, not political satire. The J.B. Williams Company promotes its "Holder Top Shaving Stick"—a solid soap product in a convenient container with a hinged cover. The two circular photographs show men demonstrating the product's practical advantage: when the stick is fresh (left image), it's convenient to use; when nearly depleted (right image), the hinged holder keeps the remaining soap accessible rather than wasteful. The ad emphasizes three product variants: a stick form, powder, and cream. Customers could order trial samples for 4-10 cents in stamps. The sales pitch stresses durability, convenience, and that trying competing products would confirm Williams' superiority. This reflects early-20th-century consumer marketing—using before/after scenarios and competitive claims to sell household grooming products to American men.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
September 10, 1914 ae were Convenient when you | | More “convenient when | K first use the stick’ ... | | thestick isnearly used up. | The more you try other kinds, the better you will under- stand why Williams’ Shaving Soaps are so popular. Send 4 Cents in Stamps for a miniature trial package of either Williams’ Shaving Stick, Powder or Cream, or 10 cents for Assortment No. 1, containing all three articles. THE J. B. WILLIAMS COMPANY, Dept A, Glastonbury, Conn. : . Powder Stick a: For the Here is sheer The same double quick R luxury in shav- dependable ' H shave with 9 ing. Squeeze soap ina box <{ | . the samecom- BR 5. it into a hollow with the | j} fortable and / F Gun in your wet convenient refreshed after 6 rice brush. Particu- hinged cover 3 effect. Leaves AN ‘ay ; larly recom- which can S ke | all,your » BB mended for never be mis- | time for the ‘ easily irritated laid—it’s fast- | | oefied on,