Life — October 9, 1931 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# This is an Advertisement, Not Satire This page is a **commercial advertisement** for Sheaffer's Skrip writing fluid and fountain pens, not political or social satire. The content shows product testing diagrams demonstrating Skrip's superiority over traditional ink—comparing sediment levels, washability, and performance across multiple writing instruments. The "five tests" mentioned tout improvements like non-clogging formulas and quick-drying properties. The large fountain pen illustration and ink bottle are product images. The testimonial from what appears to be a signature (possibly an endorser) adds credibility. The advertisement emphasizes business efficiency—how Skrip eliminates pen-maintenance time losses in offices—appealing to mid-20th century workplace productivity concerns. This is straightforward commercial marketing rather than editorial commentary.