Life, 1915-11-18 · page 39 of 52
Life — November 18, 1915 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward advertisement for office equipment, specifically the Multigraph copying/printing machine. The page showcases how the American Security and Trust Company of Washington used Multigraph equipment to reduce costs by over $915 in ten months. The accompanying table demonstrates monthly savings across different printing metrics (letterheads, deposit slips, etc.). The "point" is purely commercial: the ad argues that businesses of any size can profitably use this compact, operator-friendly machine. It emphasizes low risk (20% down payment, easy terms) and high quality output for routine office forms — letterheads, checks, reports, and circular letters. The silhouetted figure at the left is simply an **operator using the equipment**; there are no political figures or satirical caricatures present. This is a standard early 20th-century trade advertisement designed to convince business managers that the Multigraph would pay for itself through increased efficiency.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The American Security and Trust Company printed all these forms and many others on the Senior Multi- graph equipment, shown, with operator at the left. Galy the forms themselves can give an idea of the high quality of the work. TURNING LIABILITIES INTO ASSETS “Making money” is a bank's business, but they take no chances on unsafe investments, however large the returns. Here’s how the American Security and Trust Company of Washington, combined safety with an investment that netted them over 100% in annual saving! In the Multigraph they discovered an economical way to produce letterheads, reports, checks, deposit slips, and many other forms, as well as circular letters. The high quality of this printing surprised them as much as its very low cost. Month after month developed new uses, and each use brought additional saving. Every Size and Kind of Business Can Use the Multigraph Profitably Compact and complete, easily operated by the average employee, the Multigraph produces high quality form typewriting and printing quickly and at minimum cost. Its use means more business, better service, and helps to work out office systems more effectively. You take no risk—20% down and easy monthly payments will buy any Multigraph equipment. Ask to have a representative call upon you with proof of the saving to you. He can show you what others have done. You incur no obligation. Two Different Models The Table that Tells the Tale A saving of over $915 in 10 months is shown by the company’s monthly record of Multigraph performance reproduced above. THE MULTIGRAPH JUNIOR The Multigraph Senior Electrically driven, with print- ing ink attachment, automatic feed, and automatic platen A machine with a wide for speed as well as quality Printing. The Multigraph Junior This wonderful little addition to the Multigraph line is especially adapted to concerns who have only @ moderate amount of form type- writing and printing. It is hand Operated, but turns out the same high quality of work as the Senior. THE AMERICAN MULTIGAPH SALES COMPANY 1810 E. 40th St., Cleveland, Ohio Offices in all principal cities comicbooks.com