Vibrators

© Brooke Clarke 2011 - 2012

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.

A.C. Gilbert made the Erector Sets and the very early models used a battery powered toy motor.
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 regular motor

Model No. B87 Box	The tip has broken.  It has a male 8-32 thread. 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
Fig 7 shows the wobble

"The Man Who Changed How Boys and Toys Were Made" by Bruce Watson

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.

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

	The tip unscrews and has a male 10-32 thread.

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

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

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.

	This is a 2 D cell version with accessories.

DC or AC brush motor.

patent shows straps but unit has metal springs that will last longer.

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
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

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,

Plastic push on heads.

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

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

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

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

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

Head is male 12-32 thread.

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.

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.

3035572 Vibrator, J.J. Houghtaling (Magic Fingers Inc), May 22 1962, 601/60 - shows unit with coin acceptor.

This unit has a unique shape for the massage head.  The motor is AC/DC.
Has the Good Housekeeping seal of Approval.


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 -

The Reflexonic works on two sides and uses two seperate dirves, 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 amplidude 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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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	Panel	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
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.

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