Life, 1925-12-03 · page 84 of 84
Life — December 3, 1925 — page 84: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **product advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Atwater Kent radios, a major American manufacturer of the early radio era (likely 1920s based on styling and pricing). The image shows a theatrical scene with two figures in white robes operating radio equipment—a visual metaphor presenting radio ownership as sophisticated and almost ceremonial. The text emphasizes that buyers are "surprised" by the radio's superior performance, countering skepticism that early radio technology could deliver quality sound. The advertisement's strategy addresses consumer concerns about a still-novel technology by highlighting "expert design" and "painstaking manufacture." The price point ($80 for the compact model) situates this as a luxury consumer good. Small product images on the right show various receiver models and speakers at different price points. This represents early consumer marketing during radio's rapid adoption in American homes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VEWATE RISEN ) \ VDIO) TNE RECEIVING SET ILLUSTRATED 18 THE MODEL 20 COMPACT, THIS SET 18 PRICED AT EIGHTY DOLLARS. Are you surprised at fine performance? E HEAR from owners of Atwater Kent Radio that this is the most frequent com- ment of their guests: “1 didn’t know radio had been made so nearly perfect.” People accustomed to ordinary sets and their limitations do find Atwater Kent per- formance surprising, They are astonished at Its easy smoothness, its softness of tone, its volume (when volume is required), its rat its precision— its all-round excellence. But there is really no occasion for surprise. The satisfying performance of Atwater Kent Radio is merely the result of expert design, painstaking manufacture, If you could visit our factory you could not help noticing the careful workmanship we lavish on even the smallest parts. If, after all this care, Atwater Kent Receiving Sets and Radio Speakers were not completely satis- factory- that would be surprising. » Artists every Sunday event » Standard Time) through stations Washiny Derait 1 Cincinnats ow : y SD. St. Lewis < Davenper 81, Paul Send for ti blet of Atwater Kent Radio ATWATER KENT MANUFACTURING COMPANY A. Arwater Kent, President 4753 W: DN AVENUE + PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Mopet. 20, $80 Moot 10, without tubes, $80 Ravio priced from SPRAKERS $12 to $28 Prices slightly h Rechies weit, and in Canada comicbooks.com