Life — September 29, 1921 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not political satire. It's a 1921 Colgate & Co. product advertisement for their "Handy Grip" refill shaving stick. The ad uses a visual comparison ("Like putting a new light bulb in a socket") to explain the product's key innovation: the soap refill screws into a reusable grip handle, similar to replacing a lightbulb. This was marketed as economical—customers bought only soap refills, not new grips repeatedly. The two photographs show the grip's metal construction and demonstrate its use during shaving. The accompanying text emphasizes convenience, economy, and comfort compared to powder or cream alternatives. This is commercial product marketing, not satirical commentary. The "lightbulb" analogy was simply a contemporary technological comparison meant to appeal to early 20th-century readers.