Life — November 10, 1927 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily an **advertisement for Sesamee Brief Case Locks**, a keyless combination lock system, published in *Life* magazine. The cartoon depicts a office scene where documents are scattered on the floor, illustrating a humorous scenario of lost or compromised briefcase contents. The ad's caption suggests that without Sesamee locks, important documents could be exposed—"makes situations like this impossible." The advertisement emphasizes the lock's modern convenience: users set their own secret combination (address, birthday, phone number) by pressing a button and turning wheels. No key is needed. The pitch targets business professionals and gift-givers, listing major luggage and leather goods manufacturers who had adopted Sesamee locks as standard equipment. This is fundamentally a **product advertisement**, not political satire.