In the 19th century, as many as 75% of middle-class women were estimated to suffer from hysteria, but luckily medical science was there to help them. Doctors treated hysteria with "pelvic massage" until the patient reached "hysterical paroxysm." In modern times, we know "pelvic massage" to be "the doctor jerking off his patient" and "hysterical paroxysm" to be "orgasm." The procedure as a whole is now known as "grounds for a lawsuit."
By the early 1900s, these miraculous health-giving electric vibrators started showing up in the American women's home. In fact, vibrators were one of the earliest electric home appliances invented, showing up ten years earlier than the vacuum cleaner or iron. Regular old, non-pervy companies like Hamilton Beach and Sears Roebuck were in the lucrative business of selling vibrators to housewives.
1. “The most marvellous instrument yet invented.”
 |
| Vibratile Facial Massage, McClure’s, April 1899. |
2. “For every member of the family.”
 |
| American Vibrator Co., 1906. |
3. “Retain the glow of health and beauty.”
 |
| White Cross Electric Vibrator, Home Needlework Magazine, February 1908. |
4. “Give your system the proper stimulation.”
 |
| The Ind-Electric, Baltimore and Ohio Employes Magazine, June 1913. |
5. “Aids that every woman appreciates.”
 |
| Portable vibrator ad, Sears catalogue, 1915. |
6. “Spend just a few moments every day with your Star Electric Vibrator.”
 |
| The Star Electric Vibrator, Cosmo, June 1919. |
7. “Have you tried electric massage at home?”
 |
| The Star Electric Vibrator, Cosmo, October 1919. |
8. “A tingling, cheerful glow that invigorates and refreshes.”
 |
| Hamilton Beach Vibrator, 1920. |
9. “A vibrator is an indispensable requisite of every woman’s dressing table.”
 |
| Polar Club Electric Vibrator, 1920. |
10. “Does the work of many hands.”
 |
| Venus Adonis, 1950s. |
11. “Mildly soothing or deeply penetrating.”
 |
| Oster Massage Instrument, LIFE, 20 November 1950. |
(via
Autostraddle)
0 comments:
Post a Comment