Life, 1920-12-02 · page 79 of 97
Life — December 2, 1920 — page 79: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not satire or a political cartoon**—it's a straightforward Christmas advertisement for the AutoStrop Safety Razor, appearing in Life magazine's Christmas issue. The page shows a shop window display where two men examine the razor as a gift option. The ad's humor is mild and commercial: it addresses the relatable problem that men of the era faced—tough beards and tender skin causing razor burn—and positions the AutoStrop's self-sharpening mechanism as the solution. The tagline "What shall we get him for Christmas?" frames the razor as an ideal gift because it's practical and used daily. The ad emphasizes durability (500 shaves per dozen blades) and luxury options (including a sterling silver set at twenty-five dollars). This reflects early 20th-century masculine consumer culture, where grooming products were marketed to men as practical necessities rather than luxuries. The "Christmas gift that is useful every day of the year" message was a common advertising strategy of the period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHRISTMAS LIFE AutoStrop SafetyRazot press, ourse {What shall we get him for Christmas?” AKE your Christmas present something he will be glad to have—something that will fill a real need all the year round. Nine out of ten men, for instance, will tell you that their faces are tender and their beards are tough. This is only another way of saying that their razors pull and scrape—that after every shave their faces burn and smart. It is rapidly dulling blades that make shaving a daily discomfort for so many men. What more welcome Christmas present could you give such a man than a razor that sharpens itseif ? Built right into the frame of the AutoStrop Razor is a simple, efficient stropping device which quickly utoStrop Razor —sharpens itself razors, strops, blades, etc., hereafter manufactured by we shall apply the trademark ‘ Valet" in addition to the frademark ‘‘AutoStrop” as an additional indication that they e the genuine products of the AutoStrop Safety Razor Co., lew York. M hat BusePal every day of the sharpens the blade. It renews the edge in a few seconds, without removing the blade or taking the razor apart. AutoStrop Razor users are guaranteed 500 satisfying shaves from every dozen blades. This unique razor is a Christmas gift a man will enjoy day after day—something that will mean real shaving comfort every morning of his life. Make your gift this Christmas an AutoStrop Razor. Ask your dealer today to show you the many different styles of AutoStrop Razor outfits—from the folding pocket kit to fitted and complete travelling sets—from the standard set at five dollars to the sterling silver set at twenty-five. A mente op AzZoR comicbooks.com