VINTAGE VIBRATORS
A Picture Gallery
I have written many times about the fascinating history of the vibrator, including how in the 1800s, vibrators were not sexual items that women bought for themselves, but medical devices used by doctors to treat a medical condition then known as hysteria.
From a production of “In The Next Room, AKA The Vibrator Play”, by Sarah Ruhl.
The problem is, none of that is true.
In this week’s Inside Information podcast, I interview historian Dr. Hallie Lieberman, the author of BUZZ: A Stimulating History of Sex Toys, about the true history of the vibrator.
Dr. Lieberman and I had a great discussion about how, during the early 1900s, home vibrators were a mainstream product. She debunked many of the myths surrounding the use of early vibrators (No, they were not routinely used by doctors in their offices to elicit orgasm!) Dr. Lieberman also gave a sneak peek at her upcoming book about GIGOLOS!
As promised, here are pictures and historical documentation of many of the devices and events we discussed. Listen to the podcast
The French “Water Massager,” although innovative, never gained widespread popularity. While “effective,” they were expensive, cumbersome, and not practical for most doctors’ offices since a special water chamber with pipes and a warmer was required.
In the mid-1860s, electricity had not yet been harnessed for power. Before electricity, steam was the source of power, not just for trains but also—you guessed it—for vibrators.
In 1869, a “hysterical” woman would lie facedown on a “Manipulator Table, invented by Dr. George Taylor. Note the hole conveniently placed to expose her pelvic region to have her genitals “massaged” by his steam-operated paddle.
