Life, 1926-10-07 · page 2 of 44
Life — October 7, 1926 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satire** — it's a straightforward **advertisement for Parker Duofold Desk Sets**, vintage fountain pens. The page promotes Parker's ball-and-socket desk pen holder mechanism, which allows pens to "swing gently in all directions" and "lie level without drying." This was a practical innovation for the era when fountain pens required special care to prevent ink from drying out or leaking. The ad emphasizes the Duofold's advantages: interchangeable pen points, a 25-year guarantee, and availability in various colors and price points ($10-$35 for desk sets, $7.50+ for matching pencils). There is **no satire or political content** — this is period advertising highlighting genuine product features that would have mattered to mid-20th century office workers and desk enthusiasts.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Ink is in the Pen—no ink- wells needed on modern desks now $10 to $35 Complete with Parker Duofold Pens in Rich Glass Bases Others $7.50 and up Pencils to match: $3, $3.50. and $4 more Oval Black Glass Base, with 2 Parker Duofold Pens, $31 and $35 Gently Swings in all Directions And lets the Pens Lie Level Without Drying! {se10w) Black, Green or Ivory Base with 1 Parker Duofold Pen, $12 and $14 Black, Green oF Ivory Base with 2 Parker Duofold Pens, $19and$23 Most of all ina Desk Set, the fountain pens must not only tilt or stand upright, but also lie level without drying! Then pensaren’t in the danger of every arm that reaches across the desk. Then, too, the set can be slipped in a drawer at night and locked up. Yet the points are ever moist with ink, ready to write. All admit that Parker has scored a great victory in this full Ball-and-Socket action. And if you(ortheone to whom you give a set) want to select the night size pen barrel and right style point, you can pick any Parker Pocket Gift Box Pen from the dealer's stock,and he'll change it over toa tapered Desk Pen in a twinkling. This Parker interchangeable feature now ends all necessity for accepting what- ever pen happens to come with a set. If that’s the kind of set you want toown, or give, ask dealers for genuine “Geo. S. Parker” and accept no second best. All Parker Duofold Points guaranteed 25 years for wear and mechanical perfec- tion. Write for illustrated circular. ‘Tne Parken Paw Company, Janesvinte, Wis. OFMICES AND SUBSIDIARIES? NEW YORK | CHICAGO ATLANTA DALLAS * SAN FRANCISCO TORONTO * CANADA, LONDON, ENGLAND Included Black Glass Base with 1 Parker Duofold Pen, $17.50 and $19.50 Duofold Desk Sets 23 comicbooks.com