Life, 1925-09-24 · page 40 of 41
Life — September 24, 1925 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **primarily an advertisement**, not satire. The cartoon illustrates Atwater Kent Radio's marketing message through a humorous comparison. **The Figures:** Two exaggerated male characters (drawn in caricatured style typical of 1920s Life magazine) represent an early automobile manufacturer and a modern radio consumer, depicted as gentlemen in contrasting attire. **The Point:** The ad argues that just as early car buyers obsessed over speed ("How fast will it go?"), consumers mistakenly prioritize radio distance over overall quality. Atwater Kent promotes a "balanced" approach—demanding distance *and* tone, volume, selectivity, and clear reception. **Historical Context:** This reflects the 1920s radio boom when distance reception was a popular selling point. The ad positions Atwater Kent as modern and sophisticated by suggesting buyers should demand more comprehensive performance. The cartoon's humor derives from the outdated thinking it mocks, using the automobile industry's evolution as analogy for what radio should become.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“HOW FAST WILL IT GOe” The early automobile manufacturer had just onequestion toanswer:“ How fast will itgo?” Today the prospective purchaser looks for an all-round car, a car that runs swiftly and smoothly and silently and economically. Many people today ask of radio simpl. “How much distance will it get?” That is unwise, It is time to assume that a good radio will get good distance. It is time to demand an all-round set—a set that will get distance and tone andvolume and selectivity and clear reception, Model 20 Compact, $80 Model 20, $80 fo) Mode! 10 (wii tubes), $80 Radio Speakers priced from $2 to $28 Prices slightly higher from the Rukies wet, and tm Canada. Every Atwater Kent Radio Receiving Set is that kind. No one feature has been sac- rificed to over-emphasize another. The Atwater Kent is the radio of today -and tomorrow. It is the all-round radio. Hear the Arwater Kent Radio Artists every Thare day evening at 9 o'clock (Eastern Standard Time) through stations: wear. NewYork woe , Buffalo wwy . Detroit weco, MinneapelirSe, Pasl woe . Davenport wear. Cincinnati rated becklet telling the complete sory of Arwater Kent Radio ATWATER KENT MANUFACTURING CO, A, Atwater Kent, President 4753 Wissamicxon Avenur > Puuapgirnia, Pa comicbooks.com