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Over 150 Years Of Bliss: Vibrators Throughout History
1869 was a pivotal year for the vibrator. Although there were other devices prior to 1869, it was Dr. George Taylor who popularized the Manipulator, an oversized, steam-power vibrator located in his treatment center. The Manipulator was a revelation! Not only did it cure women of anxiety and sexual frustration (also known as "hysteria") but it also set into motion new innovations in sex toys and female pleasure.Brief History of Vibrators
Ever since we discovered them, we've come up with clever ways to play with our genitals. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. So, there's no doubting when Egyptian Queen Cleopatra needed a royal release, she’d open her golden-encrusted toy chest and take out her favorite hollow gourd. Supposedly filled with angry bees a violent shake (no doubt from a servant) would result in buzzing. From bees to Victorian-era steam machines to electrical appliances, the 150+ year history of vibrators is a bizarre tale full of intrigue and greatness. Here’s a sampling of just a few vibrators throughout history.
Calling Dr. Feelgood
Ironically, vibrators were never intended for a woman’s sexual pleasure but were invented for an entirely different reason—to aid the treatment for hysteria. Oddly enough, prior to the vibrator, doctors were manually diddling the ladies to relieve them of their lusty cravings which were disguised as mental ailments. The doctor would diagnose and treat them with the only remedy available, an orgasm.
Selective Circulation
In 1890, a medical professional came up with the Macaura Pulsocon Blood Circulator. This hand-cranked vibe, which resembles a hedonistic egg-beater, was used to relieve chronic disease and headaches. All he had to do was manually power it against the woman’s clitoris and Voila -- instant relief from frustration.
The Steam Punk Pleasure
To save his colleague's hands from exhaustion, Dr. George Taylor designed and patented the Manipulator (placing monster-truck voiceover here)! Its massive engine was hidden in another room while the dildo-like apparatus worked the woman through a hole in the wall.
According to vibrator aficionado, Dr. Rachel Maines, “all vibrators are just inefficient motors. The more sloppy the motor -- the better the vibration. An efficient motor, such as the one that runs your mini-fridge, would make for a seriously crappy vibe. But the Manipulator, it inefficient as it gets."
Lady Electric
Once homes were wired for electric, the vibrator became the “must have” of appliances for the ladies. With legendary ads in catalogs like Modern Woman and Woman’s Home Companion, it would not take long for women to become avid-consumers. The Oster-Stim-U-Lax was the first to use the “personal touch” by strapping it to the back of your hand. Soon after, inventors of vibrators eventually learned what worked best in making women feel good, but the aesthetics still needed a lot of tender loving care.
Techno Pleasure
From the telephone to power tools, to even nuclear power, the 1940’s to 50’s were a time of great (orgasmic) advances. The Gyro-Later, which looked like a pleasant version of a deadly alien, was one vibe popular with the ladies. It was made out of metal and the first to resemble a feminine pleasure device.
The 1954 Niagara No. 1 was the first vibrator to have force control using a rotary metering device. It was so complicated that no one could understand and use it without the manual. Apparently, it was a joy to use compared to the previous models (clearly, having to stop your antics to put more coal in your steam-powered vibrator was not very joyful).
Down the Rabbit Hole
