Life, 1929-01-04 · page 2 of 36
Life — January 4, 1929 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Sheaffer's pen advertisement**, not a political cartoon. The page shows a detailed technical diagram of the "Lifetime" pencil and pen, with labeled components highlighting engineering features: a non-breakable radite barrel, vaspalumin lead carriage, solderless expansion block, and drive shaft tube. The ad's tagline—"For sheer pleasure in writing, all this was done"—emphasizes that these technical innovations were designed solely for user comfort and writing quality. The copy claims the pen operates with "unflinching sureness" and requires no maintenance. This is a straightforward early-to-mid 20th century **product advertisement** promoting Sheaffer writing instruments through detailed specification claims, not satire or political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SOO EXTRA STRONG, LIGHT WEIONT BELL-SHAPE CAP DRIVE SHAFT TUBE —NO THREADS TO STRIP BARREL OF NON. BREAKABLE} RaviITe } PUSH ROD—NON. CORROSIVE WASP. as . : ALUMIN=S1.70 PROPEL SPIRAL -CUT FROM . SS SOLID ROD \ SOLDERLESS EX- PANSION BLOCK— HOLDS MECHANISM SECURELY For sheer pleasure in writin, all this was done First, all writing, needs were weighed. Then this Lifetime® Pencil was made to meet those requirements supremely well. Costly Waspalumin, that tough and non-corrosive metal, was used generously. Only unbreakable Radite would do for the barrel. Solder loosens; solder waseliminated. Parts were machined to 1/1000 inch limits.... This fleet, beautiful instrument writes with lightest touch, operates with unfaltering, sureness that betokens endless service. There is no other like it in all the world. See it demonstrated. Then write; you'll know you have found a lifetime writing, companion. DELUXE “LIFETIME” PEN, $10—PENCIL, $5. REGULAR “LIFETIME” PEN. $8.75 — PENCIL, $4.25, OTHERS LOWER. At better stores everywhere SHEAFFER’ PENS-PENCILS-DESK SETS-SKRIP W. A. SHEAFFER PEN COMPANY + FORT MADISON,IOWA,U S A. New York + + + Chicajo + + + San Francisco W. A. Sheaffer Pen Co. of Canada, Ltd. + Toronto, Ont.—60-62 Front St., W. Wellington, N.Z. + Sydney, Australia - London—199 Regent St. ©Thatisourpledpe. Your Lifetime Pen is Auaranteed un- conditionally for your life, and your Lifetime Pencil is forever Ruaran- teed abainst defect =) comicbooks.com