#RealDeal: To the Rabbit and beyond! (an in depth look at vibrators ... pun intended)
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet by buddy Ben! He writes for Passion Online, a UK-based supplier of all things naughty. His speciality is in vibrators and he's here today to talk about the history of every woman's best friend. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT BEN!!! </editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Passion Online
Masturbation: it's nothing new. The ‘pelvic massage’ as it was known in Victorian times was often prescribed as a remedy for female hysteria, but soon the doctors of the age (who would have administered said massage themselves), soon complained of tired wrists and hands. It was with relief that the Manipulator was introduced to do all that time-consuming finger work.
The Manipulator is widely regarded as the first vibrator. However, this was a frightening looking steam-powered device but given that this was the only means of power at the time, it became a very popular – if very expensive – alternative. Many variants followed, but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the first true electric vibrator was introduced to the masses.
Amazingly, the vibrator was one of the first home electronic devices to be patented, even coming before – if you’ll pardon the pun – the vacuum cleaner and the electric iron. It was advertised in the everyday press and periodicals such as a cure for various illnesses from headaches to asthma and frequently cropped up in magazines such as the popular Needlecraft. However, this kind of wide-reaching and respectable advertising soon disappeared once the devices became connected with pornography.
In the late 1960s, the first cordless vibrator was produced, and given the ‘free love’ mantra of that period it's not surprising that this device found a broad audience. After the cordless version was patented there was no stopping the developers. Like all good engineers they tinkered, adding various speed functions and multi-vibrating surfaces.
There is little that is now taboo about vibrators, dildos and other sex toys. One or two prime time television shows (especially Sex and the City) have embraced them with open arms and open legs.
Sex in the City did a lot for a very particular kind of vibrator- the Rabbit. The ‘rabbit’ style of vibrator was the first to incorporate both vaginal and clitoral stimulation. The Original Jack Rabbit and the Rampant Rabbit were both produced in the 1990s and still around in various forms.
In 2012 there are more vibrators than even the most enthusiastic collector could hope to enjoy. There are anal, clitoral and vaginal vibrators, some which attempt all three and even some that provide stimulation for a couple or a threesome. There are big ones (and that's an understatement!) small ones, some for women, some for men, quiet ones, and a few that sound and feel like an oncoming earthquake. One or two can be operated remotely via a smartphone or synched up with an MP3 player.
Although the traditional internal vibrators continue to be as popular as ever, times move on and vibrator designs do too. External clitoral vibrators are all the rage, and with good reason- they can be used during sex or alone and they're non-threatening. A cute little pink butterfly won't bring out the jealous boyfriend in any bedmate. That's the theory any way.
The packaging and sales ethos around a modern vibrator is also very different from the way it was back in the early days of the Rabbit. High end toys now cost serious money, and they're sleek, stylish, and sleeze-free . What we're now entering is the iPhone sex-toy era. The Mac IIs and Commodore 64s might have kitsch value but as far as functionality and downright beautiful design goes they leave a lot to be desired.
Moves have been made to ban the use of vibrators in certain states and countries, and of course religious authorities have had a lot to say about them. In Japan there are rules against making sex toys that closely mirror the human anatomy, but all that means is that the Japanese brands make some VERY strange and rather innovative toys. Vibrators in the shape of Jesus are fairly easy to find so in most countries it's fair to say that religious censorship isn't hurting the vibe market too much.