Life — November 6, 1931 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Content Description This is a **Sheaffer fountain pen advertisement**, not political satire or a cartoon. The page promotes Sheaffer desk sets by highlighting design features that distinguish their products from competitors. The central image shows two dogs on a decorative base with various pens displayed around them. The numbered callouts (1-5) identify Sheaffer's patented features: the "White Dot" guarantee mark, a shoulder mechanism to keep the pen moist, a spring ratchet maintaining proper writing angle, a Zeppelin-style anchor preventing breakage, and a free-resting socket design. The dogs serve as decorative imagery rather than carrying symbolic meaning—typical ornamental elements for luxury desk sets of this era. The advertisement emphasizes engineering superiority and build quality to justify premium pricing ("$100—each").