Life, 1919-04-10 · page 31 of 46
Life — April 10, 1919 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **business advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes the Addressograph, a mechanical addressing machine for offices. The image shows a businesswoman using the device to fill in correspondence and payroll forms. The advertisement emphasizes efficiency: the machine prints 15 times faster than pen or typewriter while eliminating errors. The contextual detail is the **payroll sheet from Willys-Overland Co.** (an automobile manufacturer), suggesting this is pitched at post-WWI businesses needing to modernize clerical work. The small text mentions converting "from War Work to Peace Work," placing this in the 1918-1920 transition period. For modern readers: this reflects an era when office automation—mechanical rather than electronic—was revolutionary. The advertisement targets managers concerned with labor costs and efficiency, positioning the Addressograph as a modern business solution. There is no satire present; it's straightforward commercial promotion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ere is disfig- Id we world, usted, to be Provi- resent THE WILLYS-OVERLAND CO. PAY ROLL FOR PERI 10D_ ENDING +RADECKI KOWKA Gets Business and Cuts Record Keeping Expense! From Card Index Plates made right in your office, Addressograph fills in letters, lists names, etc., on pay sheets or prints desired data on any other forms 15 TIMES FASTER THAN PEN OR C.JDZIAREK TYPEWRITER! Mistakes impossible. J.DUBSKY Find out how it will increase your sales and save name wniting costs in all departments. Our representative will call with a $60 FREE TRIAL. Ribbon Print Hand Addressograph, demon. strate it at your desk and, if desired, leave it for Free Trial. Just mail coupon ESKE Prompt service fornished at these ci Sake address plates ia bes Netnes Deteuit Dalotte hiladel hore x ittabu ret Reao Mi Sacramnes Minneapolis St. Louis $60 Hand Machises or larger models forspeedily printing typewrittes Letters to “Fill In” Envelopes Statements Pay Forms Shop Orders Route Sheets Record Sheets Dividend Forms Checks Inventory Records rappers Labels Tags, ete. aph NEW YORK asp Mail to nearest office—or phone for representative if list opposite names your city. ro We use forms checked below: I OFillingin Letters (Route Sheets Record Sheets Shop Orders Envelopes, Circulars OTags, Labels OPrice Lists, Wrappers hia Statements | ODividend Forms 1 Pay Forms U OChecks OInventory Records Add dest to mabe the change from War Work to Peace Work as tary as possible. Cooperation ts the 4 Firm .. nto Williamsport Official. Wisnipe. Man, ADDRESSOGRAPH COMPANY (917A), Chicago. Without cost or obligation, please give (Facts about trial offer QDemonstration in o: comicbooks.com