Life, 1928-07-19 · page 39 of 40
Life — July 19, 1928 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon but a product advertisement** for Gillette Safety Razors. The page promotes three razor models ("Big Fellow," "New Standard," and "Tuckaway") with prices ranging from $5 to $75. The phrase "Sturdy—but gentle" in the header is the advertising slogan, not satire. The imagery showcases shaving implements arranged in a still-life composition against a checkered background—a common Art Deco advertising design of the era. The text emphasizes how these razors transform shaving from "a disagreeable chore" into "a sport, an art, a daily ritual of pleasure"—typical early 20th-century marketing rhetoric that positioned consumer goods as lifestyle improvements rather than mere necessities. There are no political figures, caricatures, or satirical commentary visible. This appears to be a straightforward commercial advertisement typical of *Life* magazine's advertising content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEWSTANDARD. This re- mains one of the most popu- lar of all New Improved models. Similar in desi, the Big Fellow but with a slightly shorter handle. Genuine leather covered d with purple vel- vet apd satin. Razor and blade box are heavily plated in gold or silver. Complete with ten Gillette Blades (twenty shaving edges). Price $5.00. « - MADE IW. He SA. KNOWN TNE v. WORLO ovER 8IG FELLOW HE BIG FELLOW is longer in handle and heavier in head—a man-sized fistful of beautifully machined and finished metal— and how gently and easily it shaves! The extra size and heft add their weight to the smooth sure blade. It’s time you discovered the face value of the New Improved Gillette. It changes your whole attitude toward your morning shave; instead of a disagreeable chore, it’s a sport, an art, a daily ritual of pleasure. Gillette Safety Razor Co., Boston, U.S. A. THE NEW IMPROVED Gillette SAFETY RAZOR FIVE TO SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS TUCKAWAY All the es- sentials of Gillette Shaving comfort packed into the smallest possiblespace The Tuckaway takes almost no room in an overnight bag —slips conveniently into a pocket like acigarette case. Heavily plated case in silver or gold, lined with purple velvet and satin, Complete with ten Cillette Blades (twenty shaving edges). Price $5.00. —~+— comicbooks.com