Life, 1929-03-08 · page 29 of 44
Life — March 8, 1929 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Gillette razor blade advertisement**, not political satire. The page shows three male portraits labeled by beard growth stage (ages 16-21, 21-30, 30+), illustrating the central sales pitch: "Every day your beard gets tougher / The older you get, the oftener you need a fresh Gillette Blade." The ad uses a pseudo-scientific appeal—detailed descriptions of blade testing, microscopic precision, and quality control—to position Gillette as the reliable choice across all life stages. The humor is gentle and self-aware rather than satirical: the copy acknowledges that shaving conditions vary and that beards genuinely become more difficult to shave with age. The "fifty-box" product at bottom, marketed as serving dual purposes (button/cigarette box afterward), targets gift-giving. This is straightforward mid-century consumer advertising using age progression and masculine appeal rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life 27 TENDER BEARD 16 to 21 kkk kkkk The older the man, the harder the job for his razor; the more important it is to safeguard your comfort by lath- ering a full three minutes, using the correct diagonal stroke, and slipping a fresh Gillette Blade in your razor when time is short. That's how to get Gillette's un- rivalled maximum of smooth, sure shaving luxury. MEDIUM BEARD Every day your beard gets tougher 21 40 30 TOUGH BEARD 30 and over The older you get, the oftener you need a fresh Gillette Blade T sixteen that faint shadow on your chin is half hope and half suspicion. At twenty- onc, the man—and the beard —come of age. At thirty the mature man expects his Gillette Blade to do its duty every morning. And it does in spite of hurry and hard water—in spite of a dozen changing conditions that test the quality of the finest temper that science has learned to give the world’s finest steel. Before a finished Gillette Blade is slipped into the little green envelope which is its certificate of perfection, the steel has been tested repeatedly by crucible and microm- eter. The edge has been honed and stropped to microscopic sharpness by machines adjusted to one ten-thousandth of an inch. A long line of inspectors—(four out of nine Gillette blade department workers do nothing but in- spect)—have scrutinized it, tested it and passed it on to the millions <> of Americans who count on every Gillette Blade to do its job smoothly, surely and well every day. Shaving conditions vary. The Gillette Blade is the one constant factor in your daily shave. Gillette Safety Razor Co., Boston, U. S. A. ‘THE NEW FIFTY-BOX. Fifty fresh double-edged Gillette Blades (10 packets of fives) in acolorful chest that will serve you afterward asa sturdy button box, cigarette box or jewel case... Ideal as a gift, too. Five dollars at your dealer's. -+ Gillette --- comicbooks.com