Life — July 24, 1919 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily a **Robbins & Myers advertisement** for electric fans, not political satire. The page appears from *Life* magazine's advertising section (page 142). The illustration shows a silhouetted figure operating a large fan, with people in period dress (appearing early 20th century) observing it. The ad's message is straightforward: consumers should examine the **motor mechanism** behind fan blades when purchasing, not just the visible blades themselves. The ad argues that Robbins & Myers fans, made by a motor-specializing company with twenty-two years' experience, guarantee quality through superior engineering. The tagline emphasizes looking "in the back" — literally examining the motor — as proof of reliability and value. This reflects early consumer advertising strategy: teaching buyers to evaluate product durability through internal construction rather than appearance alone.