Life — September 24, 1925 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is **not a political cartoon or satire**—it's a vintage **advertisement for Parker Duofold pens**, likely from the 1920s-1930s. The ad describes a blindfold test where ten men randomly selected from the public were given 11 different pen brands to write with. Eight men chose the Parker Duofold as the smoothest writer, without knowing which brand it was. The test aimed to prove the pen's superior quality through unbiased consumer preference rather than brand recognition. The image shows the test being conducted with witnesses present, lending credibility to the claim. The ad emphasizes the Duofold's smooth writing point, durability (25-year guarantee), and ergonomic design. This is straightforward product marketing using a pseudo-scientific demonstration as persuasion—common advertising strategy of that era.