Southall's ads from the United Kingdom, 1888-1913
Lister's [Sanitary] Towels (U.S.A., 1890s-1920s?) 4 ads for the first American disposable pad, by Johnson & Johnson
Read the main Hartmann page and see similar early U.K. towels (menstrual pads) by Mosana.
Washable pads - Menstrual sponge - Swedish advertisement for a belt and pad and adhesive pad
Suspenders for holding pads (U.S.A., 19th century)
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Leer la versión en español de los siguientes temas: Anticoncepción y religión, Breve reseña - Olor - Religión y menstruación - Seguridad de productos para la menstruación.

 

MUSEUM OF MENSTRUATION AND WOMEN'S HEALTH

Early disposable menstrual napkin: Southalls' (U.K.)
Large box with single pad (1930s?)

Southall's - the company early used an apostrophe in two different positions but today uses none - was one of the earliest makers of menstrual goods in Great Britain and is still in the business.

It's hard to date this box but this note from Andrew Smith, the donor, in 2008 gives a clue:

My aunty was in her 80's when she died. She lived in Manchester (England) all her life. Why she had these items (from the 1930's??) in her drawer, I do not know!!

The typography is mixed and inconsistent with the ads on this site, probably indicating the box dates after 1913.

There was nothing in this previously unopened box but the pad and pins shown here.

I can understand why women hated these things as evidenced in the Gilbreth report.

Southall's ads from the United Kingdom, 1888-1913. Lister's [Sanitary] Towels (U.S.A., 1890s-1920s?) 4 ads for the first American disposable pad, by Johnson & Johnson
Read the main Hartmann page and see similar early U.K. towels (menstrual pads) by Mosana.

I thank Andrew Smith, Wales, United Kingdom, for this generous gift as well as two others!


Below: Opposing faces on the box are identical. The box measures 1 7/8 x 2 5/8 x 3/4" (about 4.7 x 6.5 x 2 cm).
Most companies shunned, and shun, red on packaging because (I think) it might remind women of what the contents are for.
Below: The side and top.
 
 

Below: Open one end and two safety pins and the folded pad appear (see them on the next page).
 
Below: The block of folded pad right from the box seeing daylight for the first time in decades.
 

NEXT: the pad | small box of Southall's | Lilia pad in a tube - Southalls' ads from the United Kingdom, 1888-1913 - Lister's [Sanitary] Towels (U.S.A., 1890s-1920s?) 4 ads for the first American disposable pad, by Johnson & Johnson - Read the main Hartmann page and see similar early U.K. towels (menstrual pads) by Mosana. Washable pads - Menstrual sponge - Swedish advertisement for a belt and pad and adhesive pad
Suspenders for holding pads (U.S.A., 19th century)

© 2008 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute any of the work on
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