|
If
you think sex toys were invented in the 20th century then
think again! Below you will find a brief history of how
sex toys have played a major roll in the world for centuries.
|
| 2,500BC |
|
|
Egyptian
art is filled with sexual images and many of the gods they
worshipped were very well endowed. There is some evidence
to show that Egyptian women were familiar with the use of
dildos. Condoms were commonly made of animal intestines
but their use was very different from that today. They were
used to ward off evil spirits. Then again, maybe not so
different -))
|
| 500BC |
|
|
The
first documented use of a dildo comes from Ancient Greece,
where merchants sold something called an olisbos. Fashioned
from stone, leather, or in some cases wood, the olisbos
became a tool bought primarily by single women - or so the
cultural evidence would have us believe.
|
| 500AD |
|
|
If
you thought the love swing was a new invention then think
again. As this Greek plate shows, older civilizations were
light years ahead of us in that department.
|
| 500AD |
|
|
Around
500Ad the now famous Ben Wall Balls came into existence.
In the original form there was only one ball, and it was
designed to enhance a guys pleasure during intercourse.
Eventually they evolved into the familiar toy that we know
today, two balls that were designed to help a women improve
the strength of her pelvic floor muscles.
|
|
|
|
The
oldest dildo known is in fact 106,000 years old. Made of
carved whalebone, it was found in Iceland and is decorated
with Goddess symbols and an ancient menstrual calendar (used
by its owner to track her cycles against phases of the moon).
|
| 1400s |
|
|
We
next turn to Renaissance Italy, where olisbos became diletto,
from the Italian word for delight. Even with a liberal
amount of olive oil as lubricant (no joke!), the diletto
was not as comfortable as today's models. But as evidenced
by today's booming adult toy industry, dildos continued
to evolve and grow in popularity.
|
| 1734 |
|
|
The
clockwork vibrator, or tremoussoir (Exhibit A), was invented
in France in 1734 and was available from medical instrument
suppliers in the American colonies by the 1750s. The devices
were expensive and thus were purchased mainly by physicians,
but there was no obstacle in custom or law to their purchase
by any person who could afford them.
|
| 1791 |
|
|
1791
saw the publication of “Justine” by the Marquis
De Sade, probably the most infamous writer in the history
of French literature, who occasionally has been hailed
as "the freest spirit who has ever existed."
Marquis de Sade published erotic writings that gave rise
to the term sadism - enjoyment of cruelty, which first
made it into a dictionary in 1834. His writing not only
gave birth to the BDSM movement but popularized many of
the bondage toys, such as whips, handcuffs, etc, that
are familiar to use today.
|
| 1844 |
|
|
When
Charles Goodyear discovered by accident how to vulcanize
rubber he not only revolutionized the car world but also
the sex toy industry. The process of vulcanization made
rubber stronger and more durable and eventually led to it
being used in the production of condoms, dildos and other
sex toys.
|
| 1869 |
|
|
George
Taylor, M.D., is credited with being the first American
to create a steam and foot/hand crank device, in 1880. Taylor's
"Manipulator" simply turned a wheel, which pushed
a rod that created a movement on a handle or padded surface.
The patient would either hold on to the handle and receive
the vibration or oscillations, or sit or stand against the
padded surface to receive the movement from the machine.
|
| 1882 |
|
|
Dr.
Joseph Mortimer Granville patented the first electromechanical
vibrator; there were at least two- dozen models available
to the medical profession. There were musical vibrators,
counterweighted vibrators, vibratory forks, undulating wire
coils called vibratiles, vibrators that hung from the ceiling,
vibrators attached to tables, floor models on rollers and
portable devices that fit in the palm of the hand. And you
thought there were a lot of variations in today’s toys
-)) In fact by the turn of the century there were complete
operating theaters devoted to managing the scourge of hysteria.
|
| 1890s |
|
|
Saw
the advent of the motion picture and it wasn't long before
early filmmakers began producing the very first porno flicks.
Some of the early films included shots of women masturbating
with various sexual aids of the time, and included strap
on dildos and massagers.
|
| 1900-1920 |
|
|
By
the turn of the century there were more than 20 vibrator
models available, running on electricity, batteries, foot-power
or water-power. The prices could vary from a mere $15 to
$200 for the Cadillac of the vibrators, the Chattanooga.
The vibrator was the fifth household appliance to be electrified,
a full 10 years before the vacuum cleaner and the iron.
Most of these devices were advertised in respectable women's
magazines of the time such as Modern Priscilla, Women’s
Home Companion, McClure's, and Good Housekeeping.
|
| 1917 |
|
|
1917
saw the introduction of KY Jelly. At the time it was designed
to aid physicians who were performing pelvic examinations,
a function it still serves to this day. However it wasn't
until 1980 that you could buy KY Jelly over the counter.
Nowadays there is a veritable smorgasbord of personal lubricants
on the market. |
| 1930 |
|
|
As
vibrators began to appear in more and more pornographic
movies of the time, it became harder and harder for manufacturers
to advertise these devices as though they were simply massagers,
and slowly but surely they began to disappear from the reputable
magazines and mail order catalogs of the day.
|
| 1930 |
|
|
With
the 1930's came the discovery of rubber latex, which is
tapped from the Hevea tree. This type of rubber has the
advantages of being softer, lighter, and more pliable than
vulcanized rubber and eventually revolutionized condoms
and diaphragms. It also led the way for the development
of the still popular latex sex toys.
|
| 1948 |
|
|
In
November of 1948 the first Polaroid camera went on sale
to the public. Invented by Edwin Land, the instant black
and white pictures proved popular allowing everyone and
their brother to take a develop photographs without the
need for a darkroom or a third party developer. It wasn't
long before Polaroid films were the popular erotic art of
the day for those very reasons. In 1963 Polaroid’s
went color along with the rest of the country and gave new
light to the swinging sixties.
|
| 1952 |
|
|
In
1952 the American Medical Association finally declared that
hysteria was not really an ailment after all. The downside
of this was, as the vibrator would no longer be seen as
a medical device it could no longer hide it's true purpose.
|
| 1953 |
|
|
In
1953 Hugh Hefner gave birth to the still popular Playboy
magazine. The magazine was attacked by many, as nothing
more than pornography, even though by today's standards
the early editions were tame. It wasn't until 20 years later
in 1973 that Playgirl, the female equivalent of Playboy,
was born. Playboy rates as one of the most recognized brand
names in the world today and it's advent paved the way for
much of the x-rated media material that is available today. |
| 1971 |
|
|
In
1971 Betty Dodson began to teach masturbation workshops,
focusing on how to use a vibrator. Her weapons of choice
back then were two electric vibes, the Prelude and the Panabrator.
Nowadays Betty Dodson's reputation and her love of the Magic
Wand vibe are near legendary in the sex toy world.
|
| 1977 |
|
|
In
1977, sexual therapist Joanie Blank opened the first store
dedicated to vending vibrators in a women-centered, sex-positive
environment, which she called "Good Vibrations."
|
| Late 1970s |
|
|
During
the late 1970s the hand held camcorder came into being.
With it's advent, came the ability for anyone who cared
to make their own porn video. Oh the possibilities!!!
|
| Late 1990s |
|
|
Alabama
follows Georgia's lead and implements a law outlawing sex
toys, punishable by heavy fines and even jail time. Within
a few years the law was overturned, despite the state's
argument that women do not have a "fundamental or constitutional
right" to items used for sexual pleasure.
|
| 1998 |
|
|
Sex
toys became almost acceptable or at least many of them became
household names with the introduction of HBO's™ hit
series "Sex And The City”. As Carrie, Samantha,
and Charlotte became the hottest property in town, so did
the products they used. The Rabbit Pearl, Pyrex Glass Dildos,
and the love swing suddenly came into vogue.
|
Main
Menu
