Life, 1919-03-13 · page 3 of 42
Life — March 13, 1919 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satirical content**—it's a **Pathé phonograph advertisement** from Life magazine (page 395). The page promotes Pathé brand phonographs, highlighting their "Sapphire ball" needle technology as superior to competitors. The ad claims Pathé needles don't wear out records like ordinary needles do, and emphasizes the superior sound quality—describing a "jeweled" tone that distinguishes Pathé from "a priceless violin and an ordinary fiddle." Two phonograph models are illustrated with specifications and prices ($215 and $120). The bottom tagline states "The Pathé plays all makes of Records." This is straightforward product marketing, not satire. Pathé Frères was a legitimate French phonograph manufacturer competing in the early 20th-century audio equipment market.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
in Pathe Tone is held in the Sapphire ball— No needles to it glides—never wears out. oS change. Needles cut and wear out the records. There is as much difference between the tone You will find a jewelled Pathe at any price you wish to pay. $32.50 for a simple instrument. Others more elaborate, in practically all sizes, finishes and woods, up to $1,000. Go to the Pathé dealer in your town. Hear the Pathé Phono- graph records played. Your car will at once detect the big difference made by the Pathe Sapphire ball. Pathé dealers have the popular hits, firse—best—on Pathé rec- PHONOGRAPH No needles to change Costs no more than ordinary phonographs JACOBEAN ART MODEL, cat, 49 inches long, 20 inches deep, 38 inches high; automatic stop; Pathe perfected tone control; Pathe repro- ducer, Sapphire ball ; Universal tone arm, ich metal trimming; silent double spring motor 9245 ords—fox-trots, one-steps, Jazz, dreamy waltzes, stirring marches, the latest song suc: cesses fromBroadway,andinad- dition the most famous records bytheleadingartistsandorches- tras of Europe and America. If there is not a Pathe’ dealer near you, write direct for complete illustrated catalog of instruments and list of records PATHE FRERES PHONOGRAPH COMPANY, BROOKLYN, N. Y. ‘The Pathé Fréres Phonograph Company, Ltd.,Toronto, Can. of the Pathé Phonograph and a talking ma- chine as there is between a priceless violin andan ordinary fiddle. Hear the full,round tone of the Pathe, and remember it costs no more. No. 10 ACohoean; 0 10 oF oak (gold, en or fumed) ; exposed parts nickep plated; Unie versal fone arm; Path perfected tone control; Pathé reproducer, Sap- phire ball; silent doub spring motor: 20% ine ches wide, 20% inches deep, 43, inches high wood lone chamber $120