Life, 1920-05-06 · page 7 of 56
Life — May 6, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising content**, not satirical cartooning. It's a Waltham Watch Company advertisement from *Life* magazine promoting their "Proof" watch model. The ad emphasizes the watch's "Detachable Balance Staff" as a scientific innovation ensuring accuracy. The technical diagram at top shows internal watch mechanisms. Below, a pocket watch (labeled "The Vanguard") illustrates the product. The copy explains that this balance staff can be safely removed for repair without compromising the watch's precision—a practical selling point for consumers concerned about reliability. The ad positions Waltham as scientifically advanced ("The World's Finest Railroad Watch"). This represents **straightforward product advertising** rather than satire or political commentary. The "PROOF" headline simply claims the watch's superiority is demonstrated through engineering.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE MOST SONTICHLY Buln WATE ITE The ‘World's Finest Railroad Watch 2 and 19 jewels $79 and up The Waltham Scientific “ Detachable Balance Staff” that Means So Much to You in Time-keeping Accuracy depends absolutely upon the trueness (in the flat and round) of the Balance Wheel. This trueness depends largely upon the me- chanical precision with which the Balance Staff is riveted to the Balance Wheel. In other words, if the Balance Staff is not firmly and truly located in its hub, the bal- ance becomes eccentric or wobbly in its action, which immediately affects the time- keeping quality of the watch. How important, then, is this exclusive development of the Waltham Scientific Detachable Balance Staff. Here- in Waltham disregards the ordinary method of mak the Balance Staff act as both axle and hub to the wheel. You will note in the illustrations above that Waltham makes the Staff in two pieces. One a perfectly ground steel hub which is riveted to the Balance Wheel and is an integral part thereof. The Staff (you will note) has an accurately ground tapered shoulder which per- r | SHE time-keeping accuracy of any watch mits of its being driven to its exact seat and located accurately to the ground steel hub. Any layman can understand that, if his watch is dropped or has a severe shock, the result will be a broken or bent Balance Staff, therefore requiring re- airs in this important unit. Now a Staff which can ES withdrawn easily from the hub without affecting the original, perfect assembly of the Balance Wheel assures him of continued accurate time-keeping and service from his watch. On the other hand, when the ordinary Balance Staff is driven out of the Balance Arm for repair or replace- ment, the riveted part roughens and distorts the metal. Therefore, the original aperture in the Balance Arm has been more or less destroyed, and when the new Staff is fitted, the watch repairer must rivet over enough of the metal to secure the Staff, which dis- torts the Balance Arm and throws the Balance Wheel out of true and poise. The Waltham Scientific Balance Staff insures sim- plicity of repair and the original time-keeping quality of your watch, This is yet another reason why your watch selection should be a Waltham. This story is continued in a beautiful booklet in which you will find a liberal watch education. Sent free upon request. Waltham Watch Company, Waltham, Mass. WALTHAM THE WORLD'S WATCH OVER TIME comicbooks.com