Life, 1922-07-27 · page 36 of 36
Life — July 27, 1922 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon but a straightforward product advertisement** from Life magazine's advertising section. It promotes Pro-phy-lactic brand brushes—specifically hair brushes and hand brushes—manufactured by Florence Manufacturing Company in Massachusetts. The page features an illustration of two women (one brushing the other's hair) to demonstrate the product in use. The advertisement emphasizes durability and effectiveness: the "Pen-e-tra-tor Hair Brush" brushes *through* hair rather than just over it, while the hand brush is designed for years of scrubbing. The text appeals to consumer judgment by encouraging buyers to examine brushes before purchase. A notable detail is the promise to replace any disappointing purchase, suggesting quality assurance was a selling point. The distinctive "sanitary yellow boxes" served as brand recognition. This represents typical early-20th-century product advertising strategy: testimonial-style copy, practical benefits, and visual demonstration.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
You Know a Good Brush When You See It NOWING what work you expect of a brush, you are able to judge by examination whether or not it will do that work. Pro-phy-lac-tic Brushes are designed to do thoroughly the work for which they are to be used. They will stand the test of examination and will tell their own story if you will look at them. The Pro-phy-lac-tic Pen-e-tra-tor Hair Brush will brush through the hair. That’s what you want. You want to feel it on your scalp. It brushes all the hair instead of going over the top. Look at the stiff, springy, widely separated bristles and you will see that this is so. The Pro-phy-lac-tic Hand Brush is made to scrub and scrub and scrub for years. Its sturdy construction, its metal bristle bed, and its thickly set bristles stand the wear and the hard usage you expect. See these brushes at any store where brushes are sold. All Pro-phy-lac-tic Brushes are sold in the sanitary yellow boxes. If you buy one that dis- appoints you in any way, let us know and we ) will replace it. Send for the free illustrated booklet, “Ideas About Hair Dressing” FLORENCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY Florence, Mass. Makers of Pro-phy-lac-tic Tooth Brushes Canadian Agency: 247 St. Paul Street West, Montreal comicbooks.com