Life, 1925-11-19 · page 2 of 40
Life — November 19, 1925 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **commercial advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. The Parker Pen Company uses competitive marketing rhetoric to position the Duofold as the market leader. The ad's main claim—"Why is Parker Duofold the Most Widely Copied Pen in the World?"—frames imitation as proof of superiority. The company argues that competitors' attempts to replicate the Duofold constitute "official recognition" of its excellence. The page displays three pen models with prices ($3-$5 range) and emphasizes features like "25-year guaranteed point" and "Invisible Filler." The scarlet tanager imagery at top appears purely decorative. The underlying message: buying Parker means owning the original, not a knockoff—a straightforward appeal to status-conscious consumers of that era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
RIVALS THE BEAUTY OF THE SCARLET TANAGER Red and Black Color Combination Reg. Trade gm Mark U.S. Pat. Offico Lady Duoleld $s Ribbon Slextra Most Widely Copied Pen in the World? PROBABLY the highest tribute ever paid to any article—cer- tainly to any pen—is paid to the Parker Duofold by other pen manufacturers, Their wide-spread imitation of this Parker classic is the frank- est admission of its super-excellence that we or the public could ask for, Tt amounts to official recognition by the fountain pen industry that people who buy the Parker are getting the best the world affords. Others’ ambition is to come as close to it as they can. If these other makers were able to sell their imitations at Parker prices, they might raise some question as to which is superior. But they remove all doubt for the public by offering the masqueraders at any price they can get. ‘Were we to claim the best pen in the world, the public might reasonably think we were governed by self-interest. Fortunately we do not have to do this— other pen companies have done so for us. And incidentally they have revealed it to every person who wants to own apen of highest excellence. Hand-size Grip, Oversize Ink Capacity, Free-swinging Balance, Invisible Filler, Ink+tight Duo-sleeve Cap, and the soft-writing, smooth-gliding, 25-year guaranteed point —that's Parker Duofold. Good pen counters wouldn't be without it. The only deceptive thing about pens that masquerade as the Parker Duofold is their color. Solook, and look carefully for this stamp on the barrel —““Geo. S. Parker —DUOFOLD.” Then you cannot be deceived. This applies equally to Parker Duofold Pencils to match the Pen. With The 7 25 Year Point THE PARKER PEN COMPANY +. JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN NEW YORK + CHICAGO + SANFRANCISCO + Duofold Pencilsto match the Pens: Lady Duofold, $3; Over-size Jr., $3.50; "Big Brother" Over-size, $4 * TORONTO + LONDON comicbooks.com