Life, 1925-12-03 · page 5 of 84
Life — December 3, 1925 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising, not satire or political commentary**. It's a Ben Wade pipe advertisement from Harcraft & Sons, appearing in Life magazine. The ad promotes 50 different pipe shapes available for purchase, displayed in a grid with checkmarks. The central image shows a large tobacco pipe bowl. The text emphasizes that Ben Wade pipes are quality gifts—fine, durable products with a rich finish and smooth leather that improve with age and smoking. The advertisement appeals to masculine sophistication, suggesting pipe ownership signals refinement and good taste. There's a guarantee of satisfaction, with mail-order availability through Harcraft & Sons. This represents early 20th-century consumer advertising targeting middle and upper-class male readers of Life magazine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ee PIPES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FINE GIFTS & Ss PON S O R ED You needn’t be extravagant to give a mana gift that’s fine . . . that is in the same class of fineness as the motor car with the silver lady on the hood, or the concert grand piano that all the masters play. The aristocratic gift that we suggest is a Ben Wade pipe, English made. By its suave, trim lines, its rich-grained gleam- ing surface, its tapering, wide-bitted stem, you will know that it is the patrician among pipes, and an eloquent spokesman for your good taste. By the light colored finish inside the bow] youmay know that the Ben Wade pipeyou give will be sweet, mellow, ‘broken in” after it is smoked but a day. The light color is evidence of the exclusive Ben Wade finish, the natural virgin finish. The pores of the fine, full-seasoned briar are thoroughly opened and kept open. Nothing to taste; nothing to ‘burn out.” One tastes the full flavor of the tobacco and never tastes the pipe. One’s tongue, all primed for punishment, is happily surprised. And then, as one goes on smoking, the Ben Wade takes on a rich, deep glow like an old violin, like the satiny lustre of riding boots long worn and polished, the ancient gleam of Per- sian pottery, the gleam of smooth leather that binds rare books. A Ben Wade pipe becomes a treasure—and your giftee will be proud of it. Hah PIPES Choose from the Chart Ben Wades are carved in 50 shapes —to please the preference of every smoker. The chart above shows each pipe in profile. Each is numbered. You can take this chart to your town’s best tobacconist and show him exactly what you want. And if by any chance you can’t be supplied locally, write to Hargraft & Sons, specifying the pipe or pipes you want by number or by merely checking against them on the chart, and they will be sent to you by return mail. Ofcourse, they are guaranteed. No matter where or how you buy Ben Wade pipes your satisfaction is assured because the purchase price is refunded upon reasonable request. Men and Ben Wade pipes have been close friends since the ’60’s when old Ben Wade began his career of pipemaker to the English gentry, so there is no better gift you could choose for the man—or men—upon your list, This sign identifies all Hargraft dealers comicbooks.com