Life, 1920-09-16 · page 29 of 44
Life — September 16, 1920 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **business advertisement**, not satire. It promotes the "Addressograph"—an early mechanical addressing/printing machine—by showcasing its use at William Randolph Hearst's publishing empire. The ad features a letter from an International Magazine Company manager claiming the Addressograph saves Hearst's operation $230,000 annually by automating address printing and streamlining dealer order management. A photograph shows a woman operating the machine. The satire, if any, is subtle: the ad emphasizes efficiency gains and cost-cutting at a major media corporation while Hearst was a prominent figure. However, the page functions primarily as **product marketing** rather than political commentary. The Addressograph company uses Hearst's name and purported endorsement as a credibility tool to attract other business customers—a standard advertising strategy of the era. No specific political figures or events are directly lampooned here.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ind: odern new: life dding wil & INTERNATIONAL HO WEST 10vm STHEE Ywr.'R. N. Fellows 901 West Van Bure’ “Chicago, Illino _Dear Mr. Fellows: Qur Addressograph will save us $180,000 a year by enabling us to work closer to publi- cation dates in revising our dealers' orders for "cuta"--"re-orders"-- or "kills" than our former linotype address- ing method permitted. By controlling news dealers' orders here -in- stead of at our branches as formerly, another $50,000 is being saved in clerk hire, etc. Besides saving $230,000 a year for mr. Hearst'e inetitution, the Addressograph results are far more satisfactory. 0 the fon > pre: hough nthe ngth” nd by tthew 1 The leday, ymes's | SAVES $230,000 HEARST PUBLICATIONS! “STARTLING savings,” com- ments Mr. Dargan, “But easily proved to anyone who cares to inspect our System.” And, Mr. Dargan frankly admits he was very skeptical before HE investi- gated Addressograph advantages. Doesn’t his experience suggest possible profits for you? ” NEW YORK 743 Broadway Card Index Plates Made By Your Clerk! Ribbon Print Machines As Low As $37.50—15 Times Faster Than Hands—No Errors! comicbooks.com