o.b. ads, booklets & actual tampons:
German (1970s) - German
(1972) nude woman on bed - German nude (1970s)
- French (1989) - folder,
Germany, early 1950s (tells what o.b. means!)
- Dutch, two ads from 1959 giving THEIR take on
what o.b. means, which was wrong - Dutch ads, 1962,
1967 - o.b. puberty booklets
(excerpts): German, Dutch
(2004) - o.b. actual tampons: Switzerland (o.b.é.), 1970
© 1999-2008 Harry Finley. It
is illegal to reproduce or distribute work on this Web site in any manner
or medium without written permission of the author. Please report suspected
violations to hfinley@mum.org
SEARCH ENGINE AT BOTTOM &
TOP OF PAGE
|
history herstory feminine hygiene menstrual tampon flow
period menstruation old ad advertising women
plug string magazine
Women have probably used tampons for contraception and menstruation
for thousands of years, and of
course made their own. For centuries doctors used
tampons to carry medication into body cavities - the vagina, for example.
A prominent American gynecologist said
in 1945 that medical tampons "used to pay the office rent," which
stops you in your tracks, doesn't it?
(A researcher found many non-vaginal mentions of tampons in early 20th-century
American newspapers - read what she found in Words
and expressions for menstruation under Tampon.)
But the first commercial menstrual tampons seem to be those from the
late 1920s or early 1930s in the United States and
probably derived from medical tampons
Who knows who made the first commercial tampon? Maybe someone from Chicago,
probably a man, made it, simply because this museum has likely candidates
from that city [here], and because men generally
have controlled business in America, especially in an earlier era. (Lydia Pinkham may have been the first widely successful
businesswoman.)
Tampax sold the first tampon with an applicator,
in the early 1930s, developed from the patent
of Dr. Earle C. Haas of Denver, Colorado.
(Read the important Tampons as menstrual guards
("The Dickinson Report"), from the
September 1945 issue of the American magazine Consumer
Reports; it was a simplified version of an article by Dr. Robert
L. Dickinson (who made the office rent comment) in the Journal
of the American Medical Association. This report boosted the tampon
industry and encouraged women to switch from pads to tampons. Or read the
longer original report.)
|
Accessories
|
"Vinnie's" tampon case (U.S.A.,
1998)
"Vulvar deodorant system" (U.S.
patent 3,948,257, [1976]), a deodorant attached to the suspended string
of a tampon; also reminded user that she had a tampon inserted
|
| Definition |
Read a meaning ot the word tampon from a 1900
nurses' dictionary from the U.K.. Read also a
discussion of the word with examples. See a stock
certificate (1916) for probably a company that made medical tampons
used in World War I. Read ads for Pond medical
tampons, 1910, U.S.A. See also Menu with tampons
and Medical tampons mentioned in newspapers,
below. |
| History |
"Small Wonder," Tampax's
48-page history of itself from 1936-86. Beautiful
book, interesting photos. Tambrands kindly donated it to MUM.
|
| Large gifts of historic tampons, pads, ads,
documents, underwear, etc., to this museum (many people from around the
world have generously made smaller donations of boxes, ads, etc.) |
In 1995, a woman who read an article about this museum in the Chicago
Tribune newspaper kindly donated boxes of fax,
Fibs, and other tampons and advertising material from the 1930s left by
her father, who had worked for Kotex.
In 1997, Tambrands, former maker of Tampax
tampons, generously donated over 450 boxes of tampons from as early as 1936,
plus hundreds of other items.
In 2001, Procter & Gamble, owner of
Tampax and Always pads, generously donated scores of boxes of tampons and
other menstrual products from the 1930s to the 1960s. |
Reports about tampons
|
Consumer Reports (U.S.A., selections),
1949, rated contemporary American tampons &
pads - Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Kotex and others. Photos and narrative about
what pads & tampons consisted of and a photo of a pad-testing
machine (see Syngyna, a tampon-testing machine).
See also the important "Dickinson Report"
favoring tampons over pads in the 1945 CR.
"Dickinson Report" (U.S.A.) Consumer
Reports article comparing pads and tampons, 1945, based on a Journal of
the American Medical Association article (see below)
"Tampons as Menstrual Guards" (U.S.A.)
by Dr. Robert Dickinson, article from the Journal of the American Medical
Association (1945) that medically grounded the use of tampons as against
sanitary napkins. This is the full version of the simplified article from
Consumer Reports, above.
Rochester Patriot (Rochester, New York, U.S.A.)
newspaper: early articles critical of the Rely tampon
(1975-76), which was later associated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS)
Tampax Bulletins (from Tampax, U.S.A.),
probably from the 1950s, answering 19 frequently asked questions
|
Selling
|
Ad-design contest in the United Kingdom
B-ettes (1930s) tampon counter-display
box containing two boxes of tampons and 4-page proposal
to dealers, with contract. (Gift from Procter & Gamble, 2001)
fax tampon clip-art
and marketing sheet (a donor who wants to remain anonymous donated
the sheet and many other items once belonging to her father, who worked
for Kotex; U.S.A., early-to-mid 1930s). See also the
actual tampon, box, instructions.
Fibs counter display (1930s-1940s?) with sales
tips.
Playtex (U.S.A.): "We're #2[.] We try harder."
1972. Folder promoting Playtex tampons to dealers[?]. Tambrands
donation.
Playtex (U.S.A.): "The Innovator,"
4-page announcement to retailers about the "Playtex economy pa[c]k,"
1975. Text on cover: Playtex is first with a plastic
applicator, with a deodorant, on national television, etc. Tambrands donation.
Playtex: 4-page announcement to retailers about
Playtex Plus and Super Plus tampons. 1970s? Tambrands donation.
Tampax advertising campaign folders for stores & dealers:
"TAMPAX The Champ in every way."
Tampax new-ad campaign folder, 1963,
U.S.A.; includes 6 large
glossy copies of new ads and a list of publications
with Tampax advertising. Tambrands kindly donated the folder.
"All Eyes are on Tampax in 1964." Tampax new-ad campaign folder, 1964, U.S.A.; includes 8 large
glossy copies of new ads and a list of publications
with Tampax advertising. Tambrands kindly donated the folder.
"Sales and Profits are FLYING HIGH with
TAMPAX tampons" Tampax new-ad campaign folder,
1967, U.S.A.;
includes 7 glossy copies of new ads. Tambrands kindly donated the folder.
"Tampax tampons PRESENT FOR 1968
(MORE SALES MORE PROFITS)" Tampax new-ad
campaign folder, 1968,
U.S.A.; includes 9 glossy copies of new ads. Tambrands kindly donated the folder.
"Your Image is Your Fortune!," Modess
sales-hints booklet for stores, 1967 (U.S.A., Tambrands kindly donated it,
1997)
|
Tampons, at right (actual tampons and/or boxes, advertising). See
more early American tampons.
|
A.C.C. Tamponettes (U.S.A., 1939) Tampons,
box (two of different ages), instructions. Leaflet mentions early
use of tampons in theatrical professions. Red
used in instructions, red being unusual on menstrual packaging. Gosh, you
don't want to remind people of of what they're for! (Procter & Gamble
donation, 2001)
[The] American Tampon & Applicator Company
Stock certificate (1916). The company probably
made tampons for medical, non-menstrual use in World War I. Read a discussion of what early tampons
were.
Amira (Germany, Mexico, Netherlands) Early German
brochure (1950s?). Dutch ad (August, 1979)
showing blue liquid and nudity. Mexico: box of tampons, 1967 (Kind gift
from Tambrands, former maker of Tampax)
Anne (Japan, 1968) No applicator but with finger
protectors (like the Japanese Elldy, below). Named for Anne Frank of
diary fame. From o.b. and it explains the name o.b. Tampons, box,
directions. Tambrands kindly donated the box.
Anshin (Japan, 1977) Tampons, box, directions.
Origami applicator. (Tambrands gift, 1997) It's
the same as Ortex Gold and Cameo
tampons.
Arcross (U.S.A., 1960) Tampons, box, instructions
Tambrands kindly donated the box.
B-ettes (U.S.A., about 1939) Tampons, box,
instructions, proposal sheet to dealers. Proposal promotes the tampon and
contains a contract for dealers. (Generous Procter & Gamble donation,
2001). Also an ad, 1935, a scan from a genealogy researcher.
Carefree (U.S.A.) Tampons, box, instructions.
Personal Products Company, 1970s - ad with Cheryl Tiegs,1970s
Cashay (U.S.A., 1930s-1940s?) Tampons, box,
instructions. (Generous Procter & Gamble donation, 2001)
Cameo (Japan & the U.K., 1960s-1970s?)
Box, tampon, ad. It's the same as Ortex Gold and
Anshin. (Tambrands gift,
1997)
Cellopon (Japan, 1968) Box, instructions,
tampons. No applicator. With a discussion of the mutual influence of European
and Japanese art & an example from Van Gogh. (Generous gift
from Tambrands, 1997)
Colleens (U.S.A.) (ads): "New Internal
Sanitary Protection" (1961, Ft. Worth, Texas) (Generous Tambrands gift, 1997)
Comfortube (U.S.A., 1967) Kotex tampon with
embossed flower on box. Embossing ompared with Wix
tampon.
Daints (U.S.A., 1930s?) Box, tampon, instructions.
"For the Woman of Charm [!]."
(Procter & Gamble donation, 2001)
Dale (lubricated tip,
like Pursettes, below, U.S.A., 1930s?-1940s?) Tampons, box, instructions.
Trial size box of 4, 3 missing. (Procter &
Gamble donations, 2001)
Draghi Detection Tampon (Tampax, date? but
after 1958) for removing cells from vagina to examine for cancer. Procter
& Gamble donation.
Dr White's (United Kingdom), ad
with talking tampons compared with penises (yes, you read that right!),
1987 - 3-D ad, with glasses attached, 1989, for
Shapes pads - ad contest for Dr White's
Elldy (Japan) tampon with finger
cots (like Anne, above), box - ad in Junie
magazine (October 1996)
Emil (Japan, 1974) box with tampons & instructions.
Gift from Tambrands.
EZO (U.S.A., 1930s?) Box and instructions, no
tampons. Gift from Procter & Gamble.
fax (U.S.A.,
1930s) ad, tampon. See also a comparison with Nunap. fax
clip sheet.
Fems (Australia, 1967, Kimberly-Clark) Box of
10 super absorbent made of cotton. (Kind gift
from Tambrands, former maker of Tampax.) See an ad for the American
pad Fems, 1921.
Fibs (U.S.A., Kotex,
1930s-1960s?) first successful Kotex tampon
- tampon & box (about 1937) - ad
- many newspaper ads, 1935-59. Counter
display for 3 boxes of Fibs (1930s-40s?). - Instructions
without box, 1930s-40s - And I named a cat after this tampon (see cats).
Freedom box (France) Kimberly-Clark
Gynotex (The Netherlands, 2005) Wet and dry
sponge tampons, box, instructions
Holly-Pax (U.S.A., 1930s-1940s,
company bought by Tampax) box (Tambrands gift,
1997)
Kotams (U.S.A.) Kotex mesh-string
tampon with 2-tube insertion device (1944?). Kotex's first
stick tampon, 1960-65
Kotex second stick
tampons (U.S.A.) & their ads (also July 1972), 1960s to 1970s - "Remember
how simple life used to be?" ads for the stick tampon - Kotams
mesh-string tampon with 2-tube insertion device
(1944?) - also called Kotams: first Kotex stick
tampon, 1960-65 - Comfortube tampons (1967),
box, tampons - the very early Moderne
Woman, fax,
Nunap, & Fibs,
all 1930s. See also Fems from Australian Kimberly-Clark,
1967.
L & F [Lehn & Fink] Improved Tampons
(U.S.A., 1930s-1940s?) Box, instructions, some tampons.
From the company that made Lysol; these contain
hydroxyquinoline, which is toxic. Box contains
both applicator and applicatorless tampons and are irregular
in size like TamPak. Sloppy.
Lil-lets Tampons, box and instructions, from
South Africa, 1978 - ad, U.K., 1976/77 - ad, "How to make a packet of tampons disappear,"
U.K., 1988
Lotus (U.S.A., late 1930s? - 1940s?) box, non-tube
tampons, witty comments
LOX theatrical tampon (U.S.A., 1930s-1940s?) Tampons
(with an applicator), box, instructions. (Procter & Gamble donation,
2001)
Meds (U.S.A. and elsewhere, box and tampon,
1967, Personal Products Company) - Meds (box & tampons, 1940s-1950s?)
- pamphlet introducing Meds to the world (1930s)
- Meds box & tampons, 1970, New Zealand - 1941 ad - Personal Digest
leaflets, which sometimes have information about Meds (1966-67) - 1967 ad - undated instructions here
and here. - Australian
ad, 1950s
Medical tampons mentioned in newspapers, U.S.A.,
1894-1921. See also Definition in adjoining
left column, towards the top of the page
Menu with tampons (a medical
joke), newspaper, 1897, U.S.A. If it makes any easier to accept,
the tampons are medical, not menstrual. But still . . . .
Moderne Women (U.S.A.,
1930s) One of the first (maybe the first) tampons, possibly from Kimberly-Clark,
maker of Kotex: box with tampons & instructions (Procter & Gamble donation) - instructions
only (Tambrands donation, 1997)
Nappons (U.S.A., 1940s) instructions (Tambrands donation,
1997)
Nett (France) 1985, ad
showing white bathing suit. Ads March 2000, September 2001, May 2002
(scans generously sent by Frenchwoman).
Nunap (and esp. here
in a comparison with fax tampon) (U.S.A., early-mid 1930s?) instructions
(Tambrands donation, 1997). The instructions say that this tampon is made
of Cellucotton, which Kimberly-Clark created. Is this the first, or an early,
Kotex tampon? But the company on the instructions
is Neway Mfg. Company, Chicago, maybe a K-C creation.
o.b. ads, booklets & actual tampons:
German (1970s) - German
(1972) nude woman on bed - German nude (1970s)
- French (1989) - folder,
Germany, early 1950s (tells what o.b. means!)
- Dutch, two ads from 1959 giving THEIR take on
what o.b. means, which was wrong - Dutch ads, 1962,
1967 - Belgian ad with
beach & bathing suits, 1980s? - American ad showing Judith
Esser, designer of the o.b. tampon, August, 1984 - o.b. puberty
booklets (excerpts): German, Dutch (2004) - o.b. actual tampons:
Switzerland (o.b.é.), 1970
Ortex Gold (Netherlands, 1972) Tampons, box,
directions. Origami applicator. (Tambrands gift,
1997). It's the same as Anshin (Japan, 1977) and
Cameo tampons.
Penney's (U.S.A., 1968) J.C. Penney's department
store super tampons, box, instructions, tampons. (Part of the 1997 Tambrands
amazing gift.)
Pine (Japan, 1977) box of 16 applicator tampons.
(Part of the 1997 Tambrands amazing gift.)
Playtex (U.S.A.): "The
Innovator," 4-page announcement to retailers about the "Playtex
economy pa[c]k," 1975. Text on cover: Playtex
is first with a plastic applicator, with a deodorant, on national television,
etc. But: "The second page of the
article (here, from 1975) mentions that the TV
ad for Rely [tampon] was the first ever for a tampon,
and that Playtex tampon company was beginning its own television ads in
response to the Rely campaign."
Pond medical tampons, 1910, U.S.A., newspaper
ads
Primella (Switzerland?, 1969, text in German,
French, Italian) box with tampons. Suspiciously similar to contemporary
Tampax and Sanpax. Ad for it in Le Journal du
Sud Fribourgeois (Switzerland), 14 April 2009. Tambrands generously donated the box with tampons.
Pursettes (no applicator with a lubricated
tip, like Dale, above, and lubricated applicator version, U.S.A.)
tampons - lubricated applicator version (1960-70s?)
- tampon, box, carrier - 3
newspaper ads, 1959 - Tampax inter-office
memo about Pursettes ad costs (30 Jan. 1964)
- Box of 40 (1960s?) - ads: 1959,
Jan. '64, Feb. '64,
1965, 1972 (testimonial),
Feb. 1974, also Feb. 1974,
Oct. 1974, undated (1970s?)
- ad offering educational material
Rely (U.S.A.) tampons, box, instructions, newspaper
exposé; associated with toxic shock syndrome crisis of 1979-80. Hear Procter & Gamble tell radio listeners not
to use Rely because of TSS and listen to three radio ads promoting Rely.
Read early warnings about Rely in a tiny newspaper.
Rubella (France, 1973) Tampon with cardboard
applicator and intentional dent in tube, box, instructions - undated magazine ad
Russian tampon, 1994, name unknown
Sa-tips (U.S.A.. 1930s-1940s?) tampons, box,
instructions. (Procter & Gamble donation, 2001)
San Nap-Pak (2 different boxes, U.S.A., one
box dated 1938) tampons, box, instructions. (Tambrands, Procter & Ganble
donations)
Sanpax (the "x" is overprinted with
a "D" on the box) (Israel? Switzerland? 1970) The red box (that
color is unusual) bears text in English, French and
a little Hebrew. The instructions are completely in Hebrew except
for one word, sanpax. Tambrands generously donated the box.
Sears (Sears, Roebuck & Co., U.S.A.,
1968) Box, tampons, instructions
Secret (U.S.A., 1930s-1940s) Tampons, box,
instructions. (Procter & Gamble donation, 2001)
Shampon Young stick tampon (Japan, 1977)
Slim-pax (U.S.A., 1960s?) instructions
Soft Shape (U.S.A., 1969, Procter & Gamble)
Plastic applicator. Shows the P&G logo that upset Christian groups.
St Michael (super) tampons, 1972, U.K. Compared
with the similar 1972 Tampax super.
Sta-Pacs (U.S.A., 1930s-1940s?) Applicator
very much like Tampax's.
TamPak (Turkey, 1973) box, no-applicator tampons,
instructions, with comparison with Tampax 1970 box. Irregular size tampons (as with L&F Improved Tampons). Imitator of Tampax like Tampex. Super size has applicator,
1973.
Tampax (U.S.A., U.K., France, the Netherlands)
first tampon? & first tampon with applicator (1931-33?). "Small Wonder," the company's
history of itself from 1936-86 - box, tampon,
instructions, plus newspaper ad from 1934 - Tiffany
bowl celebrating the 50th anniversary of Tampax - 1936: box,
tampon, patent (with
a short account of the invention of Tampax by Dr.
Earle Haas, and of the first Tampax president,
German immigrant Gertrude Tenderich), ad,
instructions, dealer's instructions,
dealers' advisory - Dutch
ad, 1938 - 3 more Dutch ads, 1938 - Was Tampax
the first commercial French tampon?: French &
American box, tampons & instructions of 1938 compared - Instructions, early 1930s - American
ad, 1938 (with "No belts. no pins . . . ." (same as 1938 Dutch
ad, almost) - Regular Tampax (1938): front of
box - Junior Tampax (1939-40): box, tampon, instructions
- Super Tampax (1939-40):
front of box - "The Intravaginal Tampon in Menstrual
Hygiene," 1942, U.S.A., reprint from Medical Record (commissioned
by Tampax) - "No belts. no pins . . . ."
ad, 1943(?) - "The use of Tampax in menstrual
protection and in the treatment of vaginal discharge," by George
Baba, M.D., "Presented before the Obstetrical and Gynecological conference
on February 21, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois." Reprinted by Tampax. -
Chart: "Standing Female Pelvic Organs"
for the Tampax Educational Department, probably mid 1940s - Sculpture
of the female pelvis for Tampax Incorporated, used on an educational
chart, probably 1940s - "Are Vaginal Tampons
Prejudicial to Health?" (Proof for
a British Tampax ad, 1952) - ad, 1953, U.S.A.
- "How Times Have Changed: A Manual of Menstruation,
Its Purpose, Function and Care," 1950s - Tampax
brochure, Germany, probably early 1950s - "No
belts. no pins . . . ." ad, 1956(?) - Draghi
Detection Tampon (date? but after 1958) for removing cells from vagina
to examine for cancer - 6 ads ,1963 - 8 ads, keeping a secret, etc., 1964 - Tampax inter-office
memo about Pursettes tampon ad costs (30 Jan.
1964) - ad Aug. 1965 - 7
ads, 1966 - actress Susan Dey ad, 1970 - Tampax super (1972) compared with St Michael (super) tampons
- gymnast Mary Lou Retton ad, 1986 - two "diaper"
ads, 1989 & 1990 (1990: "No, the tampon
can't get lost. All you can lose are those diapers.") - German
ad about not using finger, May 1989 - Actress Carol
Lynley (probably) in an 1989 menarche ad - ad "Are
you sure I'll still be a virgin?" Feb. 1990 - ad, 1989, "I hate pads - they're like wearing diapers."
- ad, 1989, "Are they hard to put in?"
- ad (British, nude) 1992 - Tampax
sign (World War II) - ad, British, 1994 (the
thong advantage) - French ads March 2000, October 2004 - Tampax
Bulletins (U.S.A.), probably from the 1950s, answering 19 frequently
asked questions - Tampax for doll house (also
Kotex and douche apparatus)
Tampex (Turkey? date?) box, tampons, instructions.
Like TamPak, an imitator of Tampax.
[A.C.C.] Tamponettes (U.S.A., 1939) Tampons,
2 boxes probably from different time periods, instructions. Leaflet mentions
early use of tampons in theatrical professions.
Teeve (Italy, 1967, gift from Tambrands) box
and awful contents
Trust (U.S.A., 1970s) box and tampons, gift
from Tambrands. Trust appeared roughly at the same time as the infamous
Rely, but unlike Rely it appears to be made of cotton, the traditional and
safer tampon ingredient. Procter & Gamble produced both.
Tux (U.S.A., 1930s) Box, tampons and an ad from
1936.
vams (U.S.A., 1948) Box, tampon, instructions.
Cotton tampon with Tampax-like insertion device. (Procter & Gamble donation,
2001)
Vania Girl's (France,
1991) panty pad and tampon, Naf Naf magazine, France, 1991
Wix (U.S.A., 1930s, company bought by Tampax)
tampon, instructions, box, advertising, booklets and 1934 newspaper ad -
newspaper ads, 1934, showing saleswomen who traveled
from store to store - dealers' cartons of multiple
boxes of Wix
Zephies (U.S.A., 1940s?) Box, tampon, missing
instructions? (Procter & Gamble donation, 2001)
|
Teachers' guides
(See also educational booklets for girls) |
"A Teaching Guide for Menstrual Hygiene"
(cover, 1962, Personal Products Corp.,
U.S.A.)
"A Teacher's Guide to Feminine Hygiene"
(cover, 1973, Personal Products Corp.,
U.S.A.)
"Educational Material on Menstruation furnished
by the makers of Tampax" (1966) U.S.A.
Folder with huge number of information sheets, etc.
"Educational Portfolio on Menstrual Hygiene"
(1968) U.S.A. Teacher's
kit for Modess sanitary napkins, menstrual tampons
and panties (mostly complete)
"From Fiction to Fact: a teaching guide about
puberty, menstruation and the human reproductive system" (cover, 1986, Tambrands, U.S.A.)
"Teacher's kit" (complete,
early 1950s, Personal Products Corp., U.S.A.)
|
Testing
|
Syngyna (U.S.A.) article about an instrument
for testing tampon absorption capacity, and a test comparing tampons with
the Pursettes tampon
|
|