Life, 1927-04-07 · page 41 of 59
Life — April 7, 1927 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes the "Wardrola," a luxury travel trunk manufactured by the Wheary Trunk Company of Racine, Wisconsin. The ad targets wealthy travelers of the era (likely 1920s), emphasizing the trunk's aristocratic design and engineering features: a cushioned silk-velour top, rolling base, removable shoe box, and (notably) a modern Sesamee keyless lock system. The photographs show fashionable women accessing the trunk's contents. The copy uses deliberately elevated language—calling packing "unpacking" rather than the mundane "packing"—to position this as a status symbol for "veteran travelers" who demand distinction. The ad contrasts the Wardrola favorably against ordinary trunks, appealing to class consciousness and modern convenience. This reflects early-20th-century marketing: luxury goods pitched through lifestyle aspiration rather than practical utility alone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The WHEARY CUSHIONED TOP | ardrola — the trunk. that ROLLS open. 2A Touch of the Band...and the Wardrota rolls open...the movable leg automat- ically dropping down as a support, risin back into place when Wardrola is closed. Smooth roller protects rugs and floors, ORTHY indeed of its repu- Wiation as America's Finest Wardrobe Trunk is this master creation of George H. Wheary. Its aristocratic appearance and re- finement of interior appointments stamp the Wardrola as the ne plus ultra in fashionable travel equip- ment... yet beneath this match- less beauty is invulnerable struc- tural strength. The Wardrola is one complete unit when closed. It has a solid base, making it a tower of strength right at the point where the hardest blows come—and where other trunksareweakest. This, andRigid- Tested construction, means you need never worry about repairs, and .. another important point axes water cannot seep through the bot- tom in inclement weather. The finish, too, offers steel-like re- sistance to the buffetings of time — Now available with | SESAMEE |The Modern Lock That Needs No Key and travel. It is small wonder that your Wardrola gives many addi- tional years of service. The interior is a treasure chest of exclusive features... the cush- ioned top of silk velour (prevents clotheswrinkling), thecombination dust curtain and laundry bag to match the luxurious lining, re- movable tilting shoe box, spacious hat compartment, and, when Sesa- mee equipped, a Sesamee Lock on the drawer section that automat- ically locks or unlocks all drawers Earvoary Trup > As) WA ns BE Ks WARDROLA Airplane Wardrolette INE hesitates to use toe words “pack- ing’ and “unpacking” when speaking of the Wardrola...they suggest the ordinary trunk...and the Wardrola is indeed more than just a glori~ fied box and key, on the combination at any casily remembered number. Open witha twirl ofthe dials.,.conventent s.-practical, Gone forcver is the easily lest, bothersome hey. simultancously. And in the fittings, the hardware, the drawer construc- tion—one senses a quality of work- manshipwhich cannot beexpected in ordinary travel equipment. OMPARED with the Ward- rola, the conventional ward- robe trunk is indeed unfashionable. The veteran traveler, well versed in the selection of distinctive lug- gage, chooses the Wardrola, know- ing that it best meets the demands of modern travel. Our interesting new booklet tells “How to Pack,”’ **How to Enjoy Travel,"’ and shows correct equi ment for every travel need. fe illustrates the New Double Duty Wardrola, which, in Steamer Size, has the garment capacity of a full size wardrobe trunk. Send for your complimentary copy. WHEARY TRUNK OO., Racine, Wisconsin Consdian Mawsfacterers: M. Langmuir Mfg. Co., Ltd., Toronto comicbooks.com