Life, 1918-06-06 · page 5 of 40
Life — June 6, 1918 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Waltham watch advertisement**, not political satire. The page depicts Waltham as America's premier watchmaker by claiming endorsement from "the world's greatest authorities." The central illustration shows a globe surrounded by diverse figures—representing international experts and people from various nations and professions. A steam locomotive and steamship appear in the background, symbolizing progress and global commerce. The ad argues that Waltham watches combine accuracy (scientifically proven) with beauty, refinement, and reliability. It emphasizes the company's status as "America's oldest and the world's largest watch factory" and claims their "Riverside" model is "the most dependable watch in the world." This represents early 20th-century marketing: leveraging industrial scale, scientific credibility, and international prestige to sell consumer goods.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Che Wor Ids Greatest Authorities The Riverside ‘The most dependable moderate price watch in the world Geneva, London and Paris — all centers of fine watchmaking — were visited in turn. Then the horological experts of the nations of five continents ended their search at Waltham. Because they found there — inside the walls of America’s oldest and the world’s largest watch factory — the most reliable watch known to science. Accuracy in a watch is, of course, the prime requisite. But something more is also desired by the individual. Beauty, refinement, thinness; these also are important —if possible to obtain them without the sacrifice of dependability and precision. All of these features are found at Waltham where the secret of this faultless ensemble has been acquired by more than a half-century of experi- ence. Could you ask for better reasons “Why your watch selection should be a Waltham?” In every city or town, the jeweler who recom- mends Waltham is the one whose reputation stands highest for knowledge of watch value. Ask that dealer to show you the Riverside — one of the most famous of Waltham models. Here is a watch you wil be proud to give or to own. Moderate in price, and made in five sizes — three for men and two for women. Riverside sym- bolizes that lofty ideal of fine watchmaking which has led “ The World's Greatest Authorities” to say WALTHAM THE WORLD’S WATCH OVER TIME comicbooks.com