Life, 1926-08-19 · page 2 of 37
Life — August 19, 1926 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily a Sheaffer fountain pen advertisement**, not political satire. The ad features an ornate decorative border and shows two black pens crossed over an illustration of flowers in a vase. The text emphasizes the "Lifetime" guarantee—the pen will be repaired free if it malfunctions. The marketing hook targets affluent consumers by positioning the pen as a luxury item ("aristocrat of pens") made from Radite material, identifiable by a white dot. There is **no political cartoon or satire present**. This is straightforward 1920s-era commercial advertising emphasizing product durability and prestige to justify its premium price ($8.75 for the pen, $7.50 for ladies' models). The ornamental design reflects the era's aesthetic preferences for classical elegance in advertisement design.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The “flower of pendom”’ must last for a lifetime It is not Zuaranteed merely against manufacturing, defects. It is positively and insistently Zuaranteed fora lifetime. If ever it ceases to perform its functions properly its makers will repair it without charge. The inteZrity of a Sreat company stands squarely behind this remarkable Lifetime* fountain pen—built of either black or green Radite, a practically inde- structible new jewel-like material. The aristocrat of pens always can be identified by the little white dot. A sure investment in beauty and efficiency. “Lifetime” pen in Breen or black, $8.75, Ladies’, $7.50—pencil, $4.25 Blue Label Leads—fifteen cents At better stores everywhere SHEAFFER’ PENS+PENCILS+SKRIP W.A. SHEAFFER PEN COMPANY FORT MADISON, IOWA *Reag. U.S. Pat. OF Identify the aristocrat of pens by this comicbooks.com Co 4 9 PT I om 2 4