Life, 1915-10-14 · page 33 of 44
Life — October 14, 1915 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily **advertising, not satire**—a full-page promotional piece for Thomas Edison's phonograph company, not a political cartoon. The content celebrates Edison's recovery from a factory fire that destroyed his plant on December 9, 1914. The narrative emphasizes his determination: within 23 days he resumed production, and within 10 months he was manufacturing **100% more records and 50% more phonographs** than before the fire. The advertisement promotes Edison's newly perfected **Diamond Disc Phonograph**, featuring a needle-less stylus that allegedly preserves sound fidelity without wear. The page announces "Edison Week" (October 18-23), when dealers nationwide would host concerts showcasing the improved technology. The portrait shows Edison as a dignified figure of American industrial genius. The accompanying factory illustration depicts Edison's manufacturing plant as a beacon of American progress and ingenuity. This reflects early-20th-century American values celebrating industrial achievement and entrepreneurial resilience rather than satirizing them.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
: ___ ON \ Edison Triumphant ! A @untry Wide Appreciation Again the genius and determination of the master inventor have triumphed. Triuniphed in only ten months over a task as Herculean as ever was set for any man before. On December 9, 1914, the Edison plant was burned. One of the greatest factory fires that ever occurred. “Twenty-three days later, Mr. Edison was again making Phonographs and records. Today, only 10 months after the fire, he actually is producing 100% more di and 50% more phonographs than before the fire. ecords The new Diamond Disc Phonograph, now perfected. Absolute fidelity in music reproduc- tion in this, his favorite invention and the one to which his constant attention has been given, EdisonW eek, October 18-23, Everywhere Every day from October 18 to October 23 * inclusive will be ‘*Edison Day” everywhere in the United States. Edison dealers have made special arrangements fittingly to pre- sent this perfected musical instrument to the music lovers of their community. Special complimentary concerts of choice programs from the complete library of Edison records will be given each day. ‘These concerts will reveal Mr. Edison's great strides in the art of record reproduction. Having perfected the phonograph, Mr. Edison will, from now on, devote his entire attention to the collection of a great library of vastly superior records. NEW EDISON Diamond Disc Phonograph No Needles to Change Unbreakable Records Mr. Edison worked continuously for four years, from eighteen to twenty hours a day, perfecting his phonograph and these wonderful records. Perfection eame only after infinite experiment. ‘The Diamond DiscStylus, which feats over the record without wear, is a distinguishing feature of the the New Edison. It is the secret by which it has been made possible at last to reproduce, perfectly, every detail of music—to preserve the dis- tinctive character of every voice or instrument. Mr. Edison's genius has turned his rec- ord manufacturing plant into one big laboratory. He has perfected laboratory processes to a point where a scientific laboratory product is being turned out in unlimited quan- tities The /aboratory re-creation of music as opposed to mere mechanical reproduction. Concerts During Edison Week Call on Any Edison Dealer Wherever there Is an Edison dealer special preparations hare been mate for you to bear the Edison In splendid concerts each day {rom October 1¥ to October 23 (and of course thereafter). Any Feco! ‘wish to hear will be played for you without obligation, mere trivmpd. Do not failto attend atleast one of these complimnen Or write us direct for new catalog of Edison THOMAS A. EDISON, Inc. Dept. 2467 Uf there ts 0 dealer near vex, 120 shall ale endaver Musical in your heme. Lash for the name Edivon—it appear ing Edison Wee. Orange, N. J. ante foran Bion Diamend Dive wry Diamond Dive instrument. Look for This Sign in the Window of Every Edison Dealer SER sacs eer comicbooks.com