Life, 1925-03-26 · page 36 of 37
Life — March 26, 1925 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward **advertisement for Crane plumbing fixtures**, published in *Life* magazine. The page promotes modernizing old homes by installing new Crane bathrooms and plumbing. The illustration shows an elegant, contemporary bathroom design featuring Crane's "Nova" lavatory and "Corwith" bath, emphasizing that quality fixtures can be discreetly installed without major renovation. The sales pitch targets homeowners of older houses, arguing that modern plumbing and heating make dignified older homes as attractive as newly built ones. The text highlights affordability and availability through contractors nationwide. This represents early 20th-century consumer advertising in a prestigious magazine, positioning bathroom modernization as an accessible luxury upgrade for the middle class.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CRANE BEAUTY There are thousands of dignified old homes which need only modern plumb- ing and heating to make them as attrac- tive as many fine houses built today. New fixtures will transform a time-worn bathroom, introducing beauty and com- fort without disturbing pipe-lines or walls. Space for an extra bathroom can easily be found in a large closet, an un- used sewing room or a broad hall-end. IN THE OPEN; CRANE QUALITY IN ALL HIDDEN FITTINGS How the cream-white of Crane fixtures harmonizes with rich color in walls and floors is suggested in the illustration above. The Nova lavatory and dressing table are of twice-fired vitreous china. The Corwith bath is enamel on iron. Crane plumbing and heating materials are sold everywhere through contractors at prices within reach of all. Write for “The New Art of Fine Bathrooms.” CRANE GENERAL OFFICES: CRANE BUILDING, 836 S. MICHIGAN AVENUE, CHICAGO CRANE LIMITED: CRANE BUILDING, 386 BEAVER HALL SQUARE, MONTREAL Branches and Sales Offices in One Hundred and Forty-eight Cities National Exhibit Rooms: Chicago, New York, Atlantic City, San Francie and Montreal Works: Chicago, Bridgeport, Birmingham, Chattancoga, Trenton and Montreal CRANE EXPORT CORPORATION: NEW YORK, S\N FRANCISCO, SHANGHAL CRANE ClE CRANI |ENNETT, Lro., LONDON: ARIS, NANTES, BRUSSELS Crane drainage fiting comicbooks.com