Life — May 27, 1915 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Victor Talking Machine Advertisement This is actually **not satire or political cartoon**—it's a straightforward advertisement for Victor phonographs and records, likely from the 1920s. The ad features a woman operating a Victor gramophone, promoting their "changeable needle system." The marketing pitch emphasizes consumer control: buyers could adjust volume and tone quality by selecting different needle types (full-tone, half-tone, or fibre needle), adapting records to different room acoustics and personal preferences. The "His Master's Voice" logo appears at bottom left—Victor's famous trademark featuring a dog listening to a gramophone. This represents early audio technology marketing, emphasizing technological sophistication and user customization as luxury features. Prices ranged $10–$250, indicating a premium product for middle-to-upper class consumers.