Vibrators

© Brooke Clarke 2011 - 2022
Background
A.C. Gilbert
Polar Cub
Fitzgerald Star
Eskimo Electric Vibrators
Electreat
Oster Stim-U-Lax Junior
Beautysage
Wahl Electric Vibrator
Gilbert Vilalator
Kirby
Royal Rex
Hamilton Beach
Mastercraft
Shelton Electric Corp
Magic Fingers
Niagara No. 1
Reflexonic Vibrator
Eureka Vibrator Co.
Olsen
Acton Hand Cranked
Knapp-Monarch Co.
Handy-Hannah
Vita-Motor
Roll-a-Ray
Orgasmatron
North American Vibrator
Mattress
Niagara
Jones Massage apparatus
Bebout
Other Technologies
    RelaxAcizor
    Stimulation System
    Vaginal washer
Links

Background

My interest was sparked by reading the book The Technology of Orgasm by Rachel P. Maines 1999.  The vibrator dates from the 1880s and was used to treat the woman's disease called Hysteria (Wiki) or Female Hysteria (Wiki).  This was what medicine thought from the time (4 BC) of Hippocrates (Wiki) until 1952 when the American Psychiatric Association dropped the term.  That's to say it was a bogus idea.  See the Faradic web page for more quack ideas.
Dr. Swift's
                  massage treatments


2011 movie: Hysteria:
"The truth of how Mortimer Granville (Wiki) devised the invention of the first vibrator in the name of medical science." (IMDB),
"In 1880s London, forward-thinking young doctor Mortimer Granville has a difficult time keeping a job until he and an inventor friend concoct an electrifying solution to the rampant "hysteria" affecting England's sexually and socially repressed women." (NetFlix).

Google Books: Nerve-Vibration and Excitation as Agents in the Treatment of Functional Disorder and Organic Disease, Mortimer Granville (NDDB), 1883 - he believed that the nerves worked by vibration.
Fig 1 page 57 (pdf pg 64) Clockwork Percuteur is another name for a vibrator.  Also on page 57:
"I should here explain that, with a view to eliminate possible sources of error in the study of these phenomena, I have never yet percussed a female patient, and have not founded any of my conclusions on the treatment of hysterical males.  This is a matter of much moment in my judgment, and I am, therefore, careful to place the fact on record. I have avoided, and shal continue to avoid, the treatment of women by percussion, simply because I do not want to be hood winked, and help to mislead others, by the vagaries of the hysterical state or the characteristic phenomena of mimetic disease."
Fig 2 page 58: Weiss & Sons Battery powered Percuteur is probably the machine invented by Granville.
Fig
                    2 Nerve-Vibration and Excitation as Agents in the
                    Treatment of Functional Disorder and Organic
                    Disease, Mortimer Granville, 1883


A.C. Gilbert

A.C. Gilbert (Wiki: Man, Company) made the Erector Sets and the very early models used a battery powered toy motor.
"The Man Who Changed How Boys and Toys Were Made" by Bruce Watson (Google Books 2003)

Polar Cub

Polar Cub may have been a line of products that started with electric fans.
They made kitchen mixers, hand held electric drills, etc.
POLAR CUB. — Trade name for electric fans, motors, vibrators, drink mixers and other labor-saving devices manufactured by the AC Gilbert Co., Blatchley Ave., New Haven, Conn.

This vibrator uses a universal motor
1668364 Vibrator, Alfred C Gilbert, AC Gilbert Co, 1928-05-01, 601/87 - Erector set - Gilbert DC Motor -
Model No. B87 Box
A. C. Gilbert Vibrator Model No. B87 Box
The tip has broken.  It has a male 8-32 thread.
A. C. Gilbert
                  Vibrator Model No. B87

The Label on the top reads:
POLAR CUB TYPE H
110 V DC or AC 60 CYCLES OR LESS
PAT JULY 5 1921 OTHER PAT  PENDING
A.C. GILBERT CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN.
PAT JAN. 20 1925  MADE IN U.S.A.
Photoplay Oct 1921 pg 103
A. C.
                  Gilbert Vibrator Ad Photoplay Oct 1921 pg 103
Fig 7 shows the wobble
A.C. Gilbert Vibrator patent 1668364





1383616 Electric Fan, Alfred C. Gilbert (A. C. Gilbert Co), Jul 5, 1921, 416/247R - Fan guard mounting to motor body
1523764 Electric Motor, Alfred C. Gilbert (A. C. Gilbert Co), Jan 20, 1925, 310/40R, - motor casing is made from two sheet metal cups that are bolted together, Fan is shown.
1668364 Vibrator, Alfred C. Gilbert (A. C. Gilbert Co), May 1, 1928, 601/87 - The rotating motor shafe can a offset disk that causes the follower to move in a circular motion, but not rotating.

Fitzgerald Star

This is just an electromagnet dirven by the A.C. mains so vibrates at 60 Hz (if used in the U.S.)

1327466 Massage Vibrator, P. J. Fitzgerald, Jan 6 1920, 601/93 ; 15/22.4

Fitzgerald
                  Star Vibrator patent 1327466

Fitzgerald
                  Star Vibrator patent 1327466
The tip unscrews and has a male 10-32 thread.
Fitzgerald Star Vibrator The Cosmopolitan Ad Jan
                  1920

Fitzgerald Star
                  Vibrator patent 1327466 Fig 1

Eskimo Electric Vibrator

Model 751

Eskimo Electric Vibrator Model 751
Eskimo Model 751 Electric Vibrator



Model 760

The unit is marked:
Eskimo
Bersted Mfg. Co.
Fostoria        Oakville
Ohio            Ont. Can.
Model 760    10 Watt
110-12-V. 60 Cycle A.C.

Bersted Mfg. Co. holds patents for over a dozen small kitchen appliances, but I don't see one for any vibrators.


Eskimo Model 760
                  Electric Vibrator
Eskimo Model 760
                  Electric Vibrator

Electreat

852163 Massage implement, Leonard B Buchanan, 1907-04-30, 601/20 361/232 604/20 361/268 -
872148 Electrotherapeutic apparatus, Nelson H Raymond, Joseph C Vetter, Alice C. Patterson, 1907-11-26 - two flashlight like handles for two electrodes.  One has battery the other has induction coil. Has the look of 1305725.
917367 Massage instrument, John W Scott, Daniel Tibbals, 1909-04-06, 601/20 439/476.1 601/119 336/107 361/268 439/909 361/232 439/13 200/60 - prior art
951821 Portable electric-massaging and like apparatus, Nevin Buffington Le Fevre, 1910-03-15, 601/20, - prior art
1049759 Electrotherapeutic Appliance, W. B. Oliver, 1913-01-07, 601/20 200/6R - prior art
1059090 Electric massage-roll, Daniel Tibbals, Thobal Electric, 1913-04-15, 601/20 336/92 336/150 361/268 336/45 336/145 361/232, - prior art - VitaPulser, Commonwealth Electric and Manufacturing Co
1305725 Electric Massage-Machine, Charles W. Kent, Jun 3, 1919, 601/20; 336/117 - Powered by a single "D" cell battery.
Although called a massage machine, this is really an electro shock or Faradic instrument.
Electreat
                  Electric Massage-Machine 1 D cell
Electreat
                  Electric Massage-Machine
Eveready No.
                  950 Unit "D" Cell Battery

Electreat
                  Electric Massage-Machine patent 1305725
Electreat
                  Electric Massage-Machine 2 D cells


This is a 2 D cell version with accessories.


Oster Stim-U-Lax Junior

Oster
                  Stim-U-Lax Junior Vibrator
DC or AC brush motor.
Oster
                  Stim-U-Lax Junior Vibrator patent 2181282
patent shows straps but unit has metal springs that will last longer.
Oster
                  Stim-U-Lax Junior Vibrator

Patents

  749690 Massage Instrument, N. Jacobsen, Jan 12, 1904

M1
1896351 Vibrator, J.F. Doran (Sara Doran), Feb 7, 1933
2198442 Cushion Pad for Hand Vibrators, John Oster (John Oster Mfg Co), Apr 23, 1940

M-4 Junior Stim-U-Max
1896351 Vibrator, J.F. Doran (Sara Doran), Feb 7, 1933
2198442 Cushion Pad for Hand Vibrators, John Oster (John Oster Mfg Co), Apr 23, 1940

2018046 Vibrator, G.A. Wilson, Oct 22, 1935
2181282 Vibrator, John Oster (John Oster Mfg Co), Nov 28, 1939

2200635 Vibrator, John Oster (John Oster Mfg Co), May 14, 1940,
2707949 Vibratory Massage Machine, S Sadlon (John Oster Mfg Co), May 10, 1955
3075101 Vibratory Motor for Therapeutic Device, G.M. Neff (John Oster Mfg Co), Jan 22, 1963 - slying saucer for use in matress
Calls:
4005703 Vibratory Massage Therapeutic Device,
4710655 Resonant Vibration-Transmitting Apparatus,
D208608 Massager Housing, A.W. Madl & R.D. Raitnen (John Oster Mfg Co), Sep 12, 1967 - streamlined hand held
3461859 Hand Operated Vibrator, G.A. Fortnam (GE), Aug 19, 1969
3542941 Appliance Housing, C.T. Menzel (John Oster Mfg Co),Nov 24, 1970
5519292 Fingertip Massager, C. Taylor 7 B Smith (The Sharper Image), May 21, 1996

Beautysage by Beauty Appliance Corp.

Marked Pat. Pending, but so far I haven't found it.
patent dates: 10-3-33 & 8-14-34 (thanks to an email from Travis G.

1928612 Electrically Operated Massaging Device, Mathew Andis, Oct 3, 1933, 601/81; D24/215
D92995 Dlectric Massager, Mathew Andis, Aug 14, 1934
1998696 Massaging Mechanism, Mathew Andis, Apr 23 1935, 601/108
D123584 Massaging Device, Mathew Andis, Nov 19 1940,
2294947 Massaging Device, Mathew Andis (Andis Clipper Co), Sep 8 1942,
Beautysage
                  Vibrator by Beauty Appliance Corp.
Beautysage
                  Vibrator by Beauty Appliance Corp.
Beautysage
                  Massager by Beauty Appliance Corp. patent 1928612

Wahl Electric Vibrator

Plastic push on heads.
Wahl Electric Vibrator

Patents

1149099 Massage Machine, L.J. & W. Wahl, Aug 3, 1915 -
1818287 Vibrator Attachment, L.J. Wahl (Wahl Clipper Corp), Aug 11, 1931, 601/79; 601/81
1832437 Vibrator, Leo J. Wahl, Nov 17, 1931
2723662 Pad for a Massage Device, Leo J. Wahl (Wahl Clipper Corp), Nov 15, 1955
2054590 Vibrator Device, Leo J. Wahl (Wahl Clipper Corp), Sep 15, 1936
2768621 Massage Device, L.J. Wahl, Oct 30, 1956 - electromagnet moves up/down with AC line freq
RE24630 Massage Device, L.J. Wahl, Apr 14, 1959

Gilbert Vilalator No. 7


1896351 Vibrator, James F. Doran, John C. Doran, Feb 7, 1933, 601/74
1543837 Spring-Band Clasp, Charles Fischer, Jun 30, 1925, 267/73 ; 24/115H; 601/74
Gilbert
                  Vilalator Hand Vibrator
Gilbert
                  Vilalator Hand Vibrator
Main Label:
Gilbert
Made by the A. C. Gilbert Co. New Haven, Conn USA
No. 7  30 Watts A.C. or D.C. 110 120 Volts Type ____

The clips that hold the springs are marked:
 US Patent
1543837

Kirby

891776 Vibrator for Movement Cure Purposes, J.B. Kirby, June 23 1908, 601/87

Royal RexVibrator

Mfg by P.A. Geier Co. Cleveland.  Patent dates June 1908 & Oct. 1911.
1005319 Electric Massage-Vibrator, Charles C Ruprecht (Cleveland Vibrator & Electrical Co.), Oct 10 1911, 601/93

Hamilton Beach

Head is male 12-32 thread.

Hamilton Beach Vibrator


Mastercraft

Mastercraft Vibrator
2212102 Electric Vibrator, Myron J. Landgraf (Henry J. Goldblatt), Aug 20, 1940
D114337 Electric Vibrator, Myron J. Landgraf, Apr 18, 1939, D24/214

Shelton Electric Corp


There is an On-Off switch on the back of the unit at the top of the handle.  You can just see it in the photo below.  It's a triangular shape of insulating material that pressed toghther a couple of leaf spring contacts.
Sjelton Electric Corp Vibrator
Wobble Shaft - the left end bearing surface fits into an offset hole that casuses the shaft to wobble.  at the right end is a ball with a cross shaft.  the cross shaft fits into slots in the retainer/clamp part just to the right.  this stops the wobble shaft from rotating about it's long axis.  to the right is the lock ring for the retainer/clamp.
Shelton Electric Corp Wobble Shaft & related
                parts


1630435 Electric Massage Machine, B.F. Jancke (Halliwell-Shelton Electric Corp), May 31, 1927, 310/66; 310/72; 338/192; 433/112; 601/46 - on stand

Magic Fingers (Factory web page)

This is a New Old Stock (NOS) unit still in it's box.  This must be a home unit, rather than the more common motel units which had coin acceptors to turn them on and off.  This on has a timer to turn it on and off.  It's designed to mount to the springs in a bed or chair.
2570676 Reciprocating bed, John V Henderson,
                  1951-10-09, - Magic Fingers
2570676 Reciprocating bed, John V Henderson, 1951-10-09, - Magic Fingers
Magic Fingers
                  massager and timer Magic Fingers
                  massager and timer
3035572 Vibrator, J.J. Houghtaling (Magic Fingers Inc), May 22 1962, 601/60 - shows unit with coin acceptor.
YouTube: Magic Fingers, 19:32 -

Niagara No. 1

This unit has a unique shape for the massage head.  The motor is AC/DC.
Has the Good Housekeeping seal of Approval.
Niagara No. 1
                  Massage Hand Unit Niagara No. 1
                  Massage Hand Unit patent 2674994


2235183 Therapeutic Vibrator, W.L. Wettlaufer, Mar 18 1941, 601/65; 310/81; 601/26
2235184 Therapeutic Vibrator, W.L. Wettlaufer, Mar 18 1941, 601/58; 248/611; 601/65; 601/90
2674994 Motor Operated Kinesitheraphy Device, O.K. Murphy, Apr 13, 1954,  601/73; D24/215 -
2687717 Cushion Type Motor Operated Kinesitherapy Device, O.K. Murphy, Aug 31 1954, 601/57; 601/70; D24/215 -

Reflexonic Vibrator for Men

The Reflexonic works on two sides and uses two separate drives, both driven at the same frequency, but maybe at different amplitudes. It works using an angled shaft that moves the applicator.  By changing the position of the applicator along the centerline of the motor the amplitude of vibration can be controlled.  Changing the speed of the motor changes the frequency.

1269803 Vibrator
827133 Massage Instrument
1269803 Vibrator
6027444 Vibrator - for men
5923107 Vibrator - for men
Erectile Function Method and Device, Kambiz Tajkarimi, pat app

Eureka Vibrator Co.

855594 Vibrator, Alfred J. Stecker, Jun 4, 1907, 601/87 - uses a wobble shaft very similar to the Shelton Electric Corp.
942596 Vibrator, Alfred J. Stecker, Dec 7, 1909, 601/87 - uses a wobble shaft very similar to the Shelton Electric Corp.
943620 Vibrator, Alfred J. Stecker, Dec 14, 1909, 601/87 -
945872 Vibrator, Alfred J. Stecker,Jan 11 1910, 601/93 - offset arm or crank - Gilbert 3-pole motor

Wiliam Olsen

816365 Vibrator for Masssage Treatment, William Olsen, Mar 27, 1906, 601/73; 74/61; 310/66; 601/75 - motor looks like Gilbert

Acton Hand Cranked

923234 Vibrator, William F. Acton (not assigned), June 1 1909, 601/68

Knapp-Monarch Co.

2470660 Electric Vibrator, L.H. Snyder (Knapp-Monarch Co.), May 17, 1949, 601/101

Handy-Hannah

Handy-Hannah Foot-Vibrator

Foot-Vibrator
D169515 Electric Foot Vibrator for Therapeutic use or similar article, S.L. McNair (Standard Products Corp), May 5, 1953, D24/212; D15/147

Vita-Motor

Vita-Motor

1455320 Chiropractic Adjustment Machine, E.H. Ashlock ( Rittenhouse & Sweetlan), May 15 1923, 601/101 - more of a quack machine than a vibrator.

Roll-a-Ray Model RAR-1

Combines a 60 Watt household Edison based lamp in a hand held unit that includes rollers.
The lamp bulb had separated from the Edison base so I'm attempting to fix it by soldering the wire and using Loctite 290, like used to repair flashlight lamps.


Roll-a-Ray Model
                RAR-1

Roll-a-Ray Model
                RAR-1 IR Edison Based Lamp

Roll-a-Ray Model
                RAR-1
This did not work, the gap was too large for the Loctite.

Orgasmatron

Orgasmatron vibrator
Orgasmatron vibrator

North American Vibrator

North American
            Vibrator

Mattress

2512621 Therapeutic Vibrator, J.H. Emerson, June 27 1950, 601/58; 310/81; 601/70

Niagara

2674994 Motor Operated Kinesitherapy Device, O.K. Murphy, Apr 13 1954, 601/73; D24/215 - blunt and pointed ends, a couple of fan blades replaced by weight to cause vibration.

221291 Electromagnetic Machine, L. Drescher, Nov 4 1879, 607/147 ; 361/232; 361/268; 429/208; 429/210; 601/20; 607/150 - oldest in class 601/

Jones Massage apparatus

Joseph Jones holds patents in a number of areas such as Speedometers, Taxi Fare Registers 951077 and Record Players 604829 & 763903
942206 Massage apparatus, Joseph W Jones, 1909-12-07, 601/93; 132/73.6 -

Bebout

This uses a clock spring for power.  a good thing when AC power is not handy, like in a car or camping.  But only runs for a short time.
The eBay example has been broken from the winding force exceeding the strength of the pot metal case.

Bebout Vibrator


784643 Massage-machine, George F Trotter, Universal Manufacturing Co, 1905-03-14, - doorbell like electromagnet shakes head in rocking motion

791058 Massage-machine, George F Trotter, Universal Manufacturing Co,1905-05-30, - moves head along center line of electromagnet

837979 Massage-machine, George F Trotter, Triplex Vibrator Co, 1906-12-11, - rotating motor drives off-center shaft
842503 Massage apparatus, George F Trotter,
                  1907-01-29, - made by Befout Mfg & Sales Co, St.
                  Louis, MO
842503 Massage apparatus, George F Trotter & Anna Bebout, 1907-01-29, - made by Bebout Mfg & Sales Co, St. Louis, MO


Other Technologies

RelaxAcizor Model 5

FDA - The Museum Collection -
For example, the collection includes a box of Pillsbury Blueberry Pancake Mix (Figure 3), which the FDA seized in 1959 for misbranding. Contrary to the listed ingredients and the picture on the box, this product had no blueberries. The collection also includes bogus bust developers such as Lady Ample, seized in the 1960s, and misbranded and dangerous faux exercise devices including different models of the Relaxacizor, against which FDA took action several times in the 1970s.


This is not really a vibrator, but rather is similar to the old Faradic electroshok type machine.  Might also be called Electrical Muscle Stimulation (Wiki: EMS)

The TV series Mad Men Season 1 Episode 11 "Indian Summer" has a description of this device and it's purpose, which was not weight loss.  Also in the next episode (or maybe the one after that) there's a studio recording session related to the ad for this device.

Overall View
RelaxAcizor
                  Model 5 Over All View of Suitcase
Panel
RelaxAcizor
                  Model 5 Panel
Inside "45" vacuum tube, Sep 1955 Date
RelaxAcizor
                  Model 5 Inside "45" vacuum tube, Sep 1955
                  Date

The three knobs set the strength of the electroshock.
Set knobs to START prior to turning ON so you don't get too much shock.
The two things at the top are vents for the tube.
The "45" triode tube forms an oscillator in conjunction with a three winding transformer (Plate, Grid and Output).  The gold 20 PRM motor drives a 3PST switch that turns on and off the oscillator with different timings for each of the three outputs.

2651304 Therapeutic Electrode, William J. Browner, Sep 8 1953, 607/152
2661744 Device for Treatment of the Muscles of the Upper Torso, William J. Browner, Dec 8 1953
2668540 Means for Electrical Therapy, William J. Browner,Feb 9 1954, 607/71 ; 307/17; 331/49; 331/60; 331/71; 607/66
3180338 Electronic muscle stimulator, John Moss, Mitchell Kohn, Relaxacizor, 1965-04-27, 607/71,331/106,331/172,331/54,331/112 - cites the pacemaker patent 3057356. Transistor flip-flop circuit.
3424165 Electronic Muscle Stimulator and Electrodes Therefor, JI Moss, Jan 28 1969, 607/150 ; 607/151; 607/153
D192841 Electrical Muscle Stimulator, JI Moss & VJ Marik, May 15 1962, D24/200
D207686 Electronic Facial Muscle Stimulator, JI Moss, May 16 1967, D24/214

Stimulation System

Patent Application US 2006/0052827 A1 Stimulation System - electrodes are connected to nerves leaving the spinal column.  I remember seeing a TV program about this surgical procedure.

Vaginal washer


1374458
                          Vaginal washer, Larson Theodore Hubert,
                          1921-04-12
1374458
                          Vaginal washer, Larson Theodore Hubert,
                          1921-04-12


1374458 Vaginal washer, Larson Theodore Hubert, 1921-04-12, -
The Canadian patent CA199326 is dated 1920-04-20 and is the only other patent held by Larson.

This web pages is about vibrators that were advertised for one purpose, but mostly used for another.
I wonder if this product fits into the same category.  If you can shed some light on this let me know.

Photo from Quara: What medical condition from history was treated with a technique we might consider highly inappropriate today? -


Vaginal washer


Links

A.C. Gilbert Heritage Society -
Good Vibrations - Antique Vibrator Museum -

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page created on 4 July 2011, Google patent links updated 2021-11-04