Life, 1927-04-28 · page 2 of 35
Life — April 28, 1927 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon**, but rather a **vintage advertisement** for Sheaffer fountain pen desk sets, likely from the early-to-mid 20th century. The page features an ornate, decorative border framing a product display. The central image shows a black desk set with two fountain pens mounted at a 45-degree angle in a ratchet-lock mechanism. The advertisement emphasizes the desk set's practicality—it fits in drawers or rolls up with roll-top desks—and highlights Sheaffer's pioneering position in desk-set manufacturing. The copy notes pricing ranging from $5 to $100, positioning Sheaffer as the market leader based on "mastery and leadership." This is straightforward commercial advertising, not satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mastership in all types of fountain pen desk sets For those who prefer a desk set that can be put in a drawer, or laid flat in order to close a roll-top desk, Sheaffer has a superb model of that type. It is of ex- quisite design and its ratchet-lock socket has the unique advantage that it will immediately spring, to an angle of forty-five degrees, the always neat adjustment. Ever ready to receive the pen, with no time lost in search- ing, for a misadjusted receiver. There is a Sheaffer desk set for every desk-set need. Some of them sell for as little as $5, others for as much as $100. Sheaffer was the pioneer desk-set maker and that leadership is outstanding because it is based on mastership. Also regular Lifetime® pen, $8.75. Ladies’, $7.50—pencil, $4.25 At better dealers everywhere SHEAFFER’ PENS*PENCILS*SKRIP ‘W. A, SHEAFFER PEN COMPANY - FORT MADISON, IOWA NEW YORK~ 80 FIFTH AVENUE = LONDON ~ 19 REGENT STREET WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND ~ 8% MANNERS STREET SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - 160 GEORGE STREET, WEST comicbooks.com