Life, 1927-01-27 · page 31 of 35
Life — January 27, 1927 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **product advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes the Hesson Pipe, a smoking device with a patented guard designed to prevent tobacco juice accumulation in the pipe's shank. The ad addresses two audiences: smokers annoyed by messy, clogged pipes, and non-smokers (spouses, family) suffering from stale smoke and odor permeating furniture. The illustration shows a woman holding her nose near a pipe while a man stands nearby—depicting the domestic complaint the product claims to solve. The marketing strategy uses humor and challenge: the company dares customers to test the pipe after a week or month of use by inserting a handkerchief into the shank to prove it stays clean. Prices listed are $7.50 and $3.75 for the junior model. A coupon invites interested readers to request more information and a dealer locator. This reflects early 20th-century indoor pipe smoking culture and the marital friction it could create.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Pipe Smokers And Those Who Have to Live With Them Are Invited to Investigate This GUARANTEED TO STAY CLEAN HIESSON PIPE Madam-—it you've ever had to suffer in silence, choking on clouds of strong smoke, if you've ever had your cushions and hang- ings permeated with stale tobacco smoke— if you've ever picked up a smelly pipe, or if you've ever watched a pipe cleaning opera- tion that threatened to spot your rugs— you'll be interested in the Hesson Pipe—the sensation of pipe smoking—the pipe with Sir—it you've ever picked up your favor- ite pipe only to find it clogged and unsmok- able—if you've ever swallowed a mouthful of “soup”—if your pet pipe ever gurgled and you threw it away because the juice was almost oozing through the shank —or if your pipe ever leaked at the joint and got your fingers smelly—you will be interested in the Hesson —the pipe smokers’ notion of Heaven — the pipe with the patented guard in the shank that keeps it clean—always. Delight her by smoking one. the patented guard that keeps it clean and dry—and sweet-smelling — forever. Delight him by giving him one. Sir or Madam: Perhaps you find our claims hard to believe. But we can prove them to you. We guarantee absolutely and unqualifiedly that no juices can form or accumulate in the shank of a Hesson pipe. We challenge you to take any Hesson pipe that has been smoked for a week, or a month, and make this test on it: Stick the comer of your handkerchief way down into the shank. You will be amazed to see it come out unsoiled. We guarantee the Hesson. Money back if it doesn’t stay clean. Now -all you get through the Hesson pipe is pure, sweet, fresh tobacco smoke. It is cer- tainly worth your while to find out more about the pipe, whether you be smoker or “smokee.” Hesson Pipes come in two grades, Hesson at $7.50 and Hesson Jr. at $3.75. Life size photo graphs of these exquisite pipes of imported briar, the name of your nearest dealer and an illus: trated booklet,*Your Pipe and Mine,” will be sent free—if you but send in the coupon. Do itnow! THE HESSON CO., 565 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N, Y. Gentlemen: I'm interested. Scnd me the free information on The patented metal guard displayed in the cross section of Hasson Pipe, shown at the top of this page, keeps the shank clean, always, In fact, it prevents juices from forming in the shank. You can knock the “heel” from a Hesson into the palm of your hand and you will always find it as dry as pow- der. The tobacco will burn down to clean ashes, and the smoke passes to your lips sweet and mellow. comicbooks.com