Life, 1925-09-24 · page 2 of 41
Life — September 24, 1925 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
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.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
S Men out of 10 Picked the Duofold Blindfolded From 11 New Pens Different Makes “I believe that the hand can tell this super-smooth writer sight unseen,” declared a Duofold owner — and he proved it! Rwwuls the beauty of the Scarlet Tanager Choose Your Point ES,ten men,chosenat random, agreed to make this test and were blindfolded. One by one, in the presence of several witnesses, they were handed 11 large new pens of different makes, obtained from pen dealers’ stocks. Each man wrote with all 11 pens, one by one,on an ordinary note pad. And one by one he laid them all aside until only a single pen re- mained in his hand —the pen he ranked as the smoothest, most in- spiring writer. Then the blindfold was re- moved. And man after man, with but two exceptions, glanced down to behold in his hand the flashing black-tipped lacquer-red Parker Duofold, with the point guaran- teed, if not misused, for 25 years. Never before a pen selection so unbiased as this. No one behind a counter to urge this pen or that. Not even the Duofold’s famed name or handsome color visible, to sway the hand's Simon-pure judgment. You, too, can tell this super- smooth point with your eyes shut. Step to the nearest pen counter now and try it. A point no style of writing can distort. A point guaranteed, if not misused, for 25 years’ wear! And a balanced Over-size bar- tel that gives you that easy full- handed grip, and holds enough more ink to tide you over until the job is done. THE PARKER PEN COMPANY - JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN NEW YORK + CHICAGO Duofold Pencils to match the pens: Lady, $3 SAN FRANCISCO Oversize Jr., $3.50; "Big Brother” Over-size, $4 THE PARKER FOUNTAIN PEN COMPANY, LIMITED, TORONTO, CANADA ‘TUE PARKER PEN CO., LIMITED, 2 AND 3 NORFOLK ST., STRAND, LONDON, ENCLAND 2§ Year Point Lady Duofold 6s With ring for chatelaine Duofold Jr. 65 Same except for size comicbooks.com