Life, 1924-01-24 · page 36 of 36
Life — January 24, 1924 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It uses satirical humor to market fountain pens by targeting "Die Hards"—skeptics who believe all pens are identical and resist new products (the text compares them to men who resisted alarm clocks and safety razors). The ad's joke: stubborn men who dismiss quality distinctions can be "converted" by experiencing the Parker Duofold's superior features—its balance, lacquer-red color, 25-year iridium point, and leak-proof cap. The "Die Hard" figure represents a common early 20th-century consumer type: the resistor to innovation. By framing product adoption as conquering this resistance, the ad appeals to readers' desire to appear modern and discerning about quality. The illustrated pen and variants (Lady Duofold, Over-size) emphasize the product's prestige and range. Pricing ($7 Over-size) and the note about free gold girdles highlight value propositions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘OU know the “Die Hards”—the fel- lows who believe all fountain pens are alike. They either never owned a Class A pen, or have four or five cheap pens rat- tling around in their desks. They had no affection for alarm clocks either, until Big Ben came along and woke them up. And when Gillette first took the morning murder out of shaving, the “Die Hards” were the last to cheer the safety razor. But there's one good thing about the “Die Hards”"—they can be convinced if you show them. So whenever one of their number starts to expound his theory about fountain pens, just pull out this black- tipped lacquer-red Duofold and give him a taste of the fresh inspiration that Geo. S. Parker has put into every-day writing. Even the hardest “Die Hard” will own up he never swung a pen with Duofold’s inspiring balance—that he never saw one with Duofold’s classic shapeliness and beauty. * LIFE - Duofold converts the ‘Die Hards, too —the men who think all fountain pens are alike Its Size and Balance and 25-year Point put fresh inspiration into everyone’s writing He'll catch the new idea when you tell him this Chinese lacquer-red color makes Duofold a hard pen to lose—that its size and symmetry give it a friendly feel in the hand. And he can't write his signature without admitting that Duofold’s pol- ished Iridium point (guaranteed 25 years for wear and mechanical perfection) is the smoothest thing that ever slid over paper. He'll like the capacity of the Over-size ink barrel. And when you show how the Ink-tight Duo-sleeve Cap fits with micro- metric precision so the Duofold can't leak, the chances are 10 to 1 that he'll soon head for the nearest pen counter. After all, the Parker Duofold gives the biggest thrill to men and women whom ordinary pens can't stir. That's why good pen counters sell Parker Duofold on 30 days’ approval—knowing that day by day this classic grows on everyone. If you don’t own the Duofold already, get this super-pen before the “Die Hards” beat you to it. THE PARKER PEN COMPANY : JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN NEW YORK + CHICAGO Manufacturers also of Parker“ Lucky Lock" Pencils SAN FRANCISCO + SPOKANE ‘THE PARKER FOUNTAIN PEN COMPANT, LIMITED, TORONTO, CANADA, Parke Duojo With The 9/25 Year Point Duofold Jr. $s Same except for size Lady Duofold $s ‘With ring tor chatelaine Rivals the beauty of the Scarlet Tanager Lady Ductold } $8 Ribboa $i extra i *NEW GOLD GIRDLE—WAS $1 EXTRA—NOW FREE, DUE TO LARGE PRODUCTION comicbooks.com _