A Brief History of Vibrators

Today's objects are vintage electric vibrators. The Royal No. 1 Vibrator was patented in 1911 and the Hamilton Beach Type "D" Vibrator in 1912. Electric vibrators/personal massagers were common household items between 1900 and the 1920s. They were advertised as medical devices meant to alleviate a variety of physical pains such as muscle fatigue, headaches, and even constipation…in men and women. They came with several different attachment heads usually made of rubber. They unusual thing about our Hamilton Beach vibrator is the glass bulb attachment filled with mercury. This is not a normal vibrator attachment, we think the owner of this device modified it personally, and we can only guess as to what its purpose was.