Life, 1926-09-09 · page 2 of 40
Life — September 9, 1926 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a political cartoon or satire**—it's a **full-page advertisement** for Parker Duofold Desk Sets, a line of fountain pens and desk accessories manufactured by the Parker Pen Company. The ad features a photograph of a hand demonstrating the pens' key selling point: they remain level when resting horizontally without drying out, unlike competitor pens. The headline promises pens that "Lie Level Without Drying." The text explains Parker spent months developing a "Ball-and-Socket Holder" solution to keep desk pens functional and ready for writing. The ad emphasizes durability ("Non-Breakable 'Permanent' Barrels—25-Year Guaranteed Points") and convenience. This is commercial advertising with no political or satirical content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Only the Parker Desk Pens Lie Level Without Drying Out of harm’s way by day « Secure in your drawer by night Pens with Over-size Ink Capacii Non-Breakable Permanite Barrels—25-Year Guaranteed Points Created by Geo. S. Parker, originator of the Lucky Curve Feed and the classic Duofold Pens NLY in Parker Fountain Pen Desk Sets do the pens lie level (as well as tilt and stand upright) and yet remain moist with ink, ever ready for writing. We,as others, first tried resting the pens in rigid upright cups to keep the points from drying. But we found that upright pens are in danger of every arm that reaches over the desk. Besides, men want their pens to lie level so the set can be slipped in a drawer at the close of day and locked up. Month after month we strove to solve the problem. We built some fifteen models, Then one day our efforts were richly rewarded. We devised the Ball-and-Socket Holder, and in less than three months a waiting world ordered Parker Duofold Desk Sets far in excess of our capacity to pro- duce. They are rapidly replacing ink- stands in offices and homes. Consider yourself lucky that you've waited for this innovation. And lose no time in selecting your model from the nearest Parker dealer. Parker Duofold Pencils to match the Pens: Lady Duofold. $3; Oversize Jr., $3.50; “ Big- Brother" Over- size, $4 Te PARKER PEN COMPANY, JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN OFFICES AND SUBSIDIARIES! NEW YORK * CHICAGO ATLANTA * DALLAS * SAN FRANCISCO. TORONTO, CANADA * LONDON, ENCLAND ed goof tack Duofold ‘Desk Sets Complete Sets, $7.50 to $35 With Parker Duo‘old Pers Single, £10 end $12 Double, £17.59 Double Oval Cl: Sil and 235 “and he'll change i¢ over toa desk be Thus, in buying a Parker Desk § h el 20, $540 and f0,¢ complete tith Parker pens TE comicbooks.com