Life, 1927-12-15 · page 40 of 40
Life — December 15, 1927 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward **product advertisement** for Atwater Kent Radio, a major manufacturer of the era. The page promotes radio receivers as ideal Christmas gifts, emphasizing 1928's newly reduced prices made possible by mass production. Multiple radio models are displayed with prices ranging from $15 (speaker) to $75 (receiver), positioned as affordable luxury items for American homes. The advertisement appeals to sentiment ("the thoughtful giver") while highlighting the practical benefit: radio would provide year-round entertainment and gratification. The company note about broadcasting times and stations reflects radio's novelty—listeners needed guidance on when programming aired. This represents radio's emergence as a consumer commodity rather than a specialized hobbyist technology. The marketing strategy—linking the product to family pleasure and gratitude—reflects Depression-era advertising emphasizing value and emotional reward during economically uncertain times.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life = RADIO | It's goo Christmas. ANY men and women who wanted to offer their families something more than the pleasure of a day have chosen Atwater Kent Radio as their principal Christ- mas gift. This year even more people will solve their Christmas problems in the same enduring way. For the extraordinary new low 1928 prices of these simple, beautiful, reliable in- struments are effective NOW. The saving accomplished by big-scale pro- duction in the largest radio factory is passed along to you at just the right moment. If your home lacks Atwater Kent Radio—is not Christmas the time to put it there? Through the months, the years, every day will renew the satisfaction of the first day and gratitude to the thoughtful giver. ket of Atwater Ken Weise for illustrated b ATWATER KENT 4753 Wissahickon Ave MANUFACTURING COMPANY A. Atwater Kent, Pres. Vs One Dull Receivers beemsed under U.S. Patent 1,014,002 Prices slightly higher from the Rockies West Monet Monet G Speaker in fix-tube two shades of cabinet « rich green... $15 the sy prefer. Wit R KENT | afler | | EVERY SUNDAY EVENING—The Atwater | Nex * ! ~ | wer | | | 30, a powerful One Dial | ver, The a | | ‘ | i comicbooks.com