Life, 1925-10-22 · page 41 of 74
Life — October 22, 1925 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a straightforward **advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. The page promotes Ben Wade pipes, manufactured in Leeds, England and distributed by Hargraft & Sons in Chicago. The ad emphasizes the pipes' key selling point: they arrive "broken-in" and ready to smoke immediately, unlike ordinary pipes requiring tedious seasoning that strips away varnish and metallic coatings. Ben Wade uses a patented process that pre-opens the wood's pores for superior absorption and smoking quality. The images show the pipe stand/holder and the pipe itself. The copy addresses modern consumers impatient with traditional pipe maintenance ("Precious moments of perfect pipe smoking are slipping by"). It directs readers to ask their tobacconist or request a catalog. This reflects 1920s consumer marketing: emphasizing convenience, patented innovation, and time-saving for busy customers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
! $s PON SOR ED 4 ROM England come Ben Wade pipes .. different from all others. From the first day on they are sweet, mellow, “broken- in.” Breaking-in an ordinary pipe means smoking out the varnish, the stain, the metallic coating inside the bowl. The Ben Wade inside bowl is unstained... the briar itself is pumiced and polished by the Ben Wade patented process. The pores of the wood are opened and kept open for per- fect absorption! Precious moments of per- fect pipe smoking are slipping by . . . don’t wait longer. Ask your best tobacconist for Ben Wade pipes. If he can’t respond to your demand write for the catalog of all shapes in actual sizes. This sign identifies all Es Hargraft dealers ——— jeckiy by Life Pub. Co.. at (0% Madinon Ave.. New York. N.Y. Gubseriotion, $5.00. Vol. 84. No. 2263, October £9. 1925. Entered as Second Clase Malter, June 8. 15°. : the'art of Maren o. ISTH. Printed ls U.S. Av batered aa Second Claas Mater al the Post Ofice Dept., Casada. Copyright, 1925, LIFE, to tbe U. &.. Engiand and Bittiah Pr comicbooks.com