Life, 1928-03-08 · page 2 of 43
Life — March 8, 1928 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily an advertisement**, not satire or editorial content. It's a Crane plumbing company ad from an early 20th-century *Life* magazine. The ad showcases a luxury bathroom supposedly "transplanted from an estancia in old Seville to a distinguished residence in town." The image displays ornate Spanish Colonial design—decorative tile work, shuttered windows, a pedestal sink, and a bathtub—positioning Crane plumbing as offering both aesthetic sophistication and American sanitary convenience. The copy's humor is subtle: it presents this Old World Spanish bathroom as desirably exotic while emphasizing that Crane provides "sanitary convenience that is truly American"—a marketing appeal to early 1900s American affluence and aspirations. The ad promotes their book *New Ideas for Bathrooms* and emphasizes Crane's affordability.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EVERYTHING Tee from an estancia in old Seville to a distinguished resi- dence in town, this bathroom is as Span- ish as the sharp click of castanets. Though the shutters dull the direct stare of the sunlight, the room is bright with the gleam of tile and porcelain; rich with an old world beauty, replete with sanitary convenience that is truly American. A good idea? You will find many more, equally good, in New Ideas for Bathrooms, an inspiring book of decorating suggestions, blue prints, floor plans, and vital plumb- ing information. It will gladly be sent on request... . It is a pleasant surprise to con- sult a responsible plumbing contractor and learn that a complete Crane installation rarely costs more than any of comparable quality. x CRANE * FOR ANY PLUMBING INSTALLATION Crane Co., Generel Offices, 836 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. + Branches and sales offices in one hundred and sixty-two cities comicbooks.com ANYWHERE