23. Electric Vibrators Finally Ended the Era of Steam-Powered and Coal-Fueled Vibrators
The era of bulky steam-powered and coal-fueled vibrators finally ended thanks to Hamilton Beach, the makers of kitchen appliances such as coffee makers, toasters, and blenders. In 1902, they marketed the “Try New Life”, the world’s first commercially available vibrator. Because of the era’s mores, the devices could not be advertised for what they actually were. Instead, they were marketed as “electrical massagers” to ease sore and aching muscles.
Some people probably did buy them for that purpose. However, it was very much a wink-wink-nudge-nudge situation. The devices were marketed to women, the overwhelming majority of purchasers were women, and just what vibrators were actually used for in practice was common knowledge.