Life, 1919-07-31 · page 33 of 40
Life — July 31, 1919 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **business advertisement**, not political satire. The page combines a testimonial letter from The Central Steel Company (dated February 6, 1918) with a promotional ad for the Addressograph machine. The letter serves as social proof: Central Steel initially doubted the machine's utility for payroll work, but after actual use, became convinced enough to order replacement equipment after a fire destroyed their original machine. The ad's headline and body text target business skeptics, claiming the Addressograph has far broader applications than assumed—used by "nearly 500 different lines of business" for imprinting names, dates, and data on various forms. The accompanying photo shows a woman operating the machine at a desk, typical of early-20th-century office imagery meant to demonstrate ease of use. **Context for modern readers:** This represents pre-computer-era office automation technology, marketed during WWI when businesses sought efficiency improvements.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
wale Ane "Tas, Cenontn, Sraean COMPANNT MASSILLON.OMIO Fevruary 6th, 1918 The Addressograph Co., $l W. Yan Duren St., Chicago, T12. Centiesen:- Yo once oad the Addressograph could not be used to advantage in writing our pay forse — too cany . Gut actual experience base proves it to t freq typertiter. Te it any wonder elegrapbed you for a coaplete new ay roll Addreseograph equipsent to replace the one destroyed by fire? Toure truly, ‘THE CCITRAL STEEL Commary RESULTS That Turn Doubters Into Boosters! TE man who says he cannot use an Addressograph, quickly changes his mind when he sees this remarkable ma- chine at work. His preconceived notion that the Addresso- graph is used solely for addressing envelopes vanishes when he finds thousands of concerns in nearly 500 different lines of business using their Addressographs for imprinting names, dates, sym- bols and other data on every form, large or small. The various models of the Addressograph—the graphotype for handling plate changes and additions— the various attachments, overcome all objections. Investigation costs nothing—may save you a great deal. comicbooks.com