Description
This vintage Western Electric advertisement highlights the company’s role in producing long-distance communication cables, described metaphorically as a “metal tongue millions of miles long.” The visuals show the manufacturing process, from coiling to installation, emphasizing engineering craftsmanship and technological innovation.
How This Works
The ad uses poetic metaphor to make industrial cable manufacturing feel grand, almost mythical. By calling the cable a “metal tongue,” it turns a technical product into something alive, powerful, and essential for human connection. It pairs imagery of machinery and glowing cable with narrative language, blending storytelling with product detail to elevate a mundane object into something awe-inspiring.
How You Can Reuse It
You can apply this approach by transforming an ordinary or technical product into a narrative symbol. Lean into metaphor, show the behind-the-scenes process, and use evocative language to make the audience feel the scale, impact, or craftsmanship behind what you’re selling. The key is making the product not just functional, but meaningful.

