Life — October 13, 1927 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is **primarily an advertisement** for Sesamee locks, a luggage security product made by The Sesamee Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The cartoon at top illustrates the product's appeal: a traveler's suitcase lies open on a crowded street while onlookers gather—depicting the vulnerability of luggage to theft during travel. The advertisement's caption ironically notes "Some people never lock their suitcases because keys are such a nuisance when travelling." Sesamee locks solve this problem through a combination dial mechanism requiring no key, allowing travelers to secure luggage conveniently. The ad lists major luggage manufacturers who had adopted the lock by publication date. **The satire is subtle**: the chaos scene suggests travel anxieties of the era, humorously positioning the lock as solving modern inconveniences rather than addressing genuine security concerns.