Throwback Thursday - The Barbershop Vibrator
I've seen many pictures of old toys like this:
I've even seen one in the Good Vibration museum of vibrator history. They are often called 'massagers' as many old toys are. It's not much a stretch to think that people, particularly people with vulvas and clitoris's (what's the plural of clitoris? clitori?) figured out the many wonderful places they could use these aside from aching shoulders. Anyway, I digress. My point is, I am quite familiar with what an object like this is for.
So, you can imagine my shock and surprise, when, while re-watching Mad Men, I watched a barber who was giving Don a shave, strap two of these onto his hands and start massaging Don's shoulders. Ha! I knew they were marketed for massage but I didn't know they were really used this way - in professional settings. (if you look closely at the far right of the picture below, you can see the massagers on the barber's hands)
Turns out, yes, they were. Mad Men is not making that up. I did some searching and found out that these types of vibrators were definitely used this way - so much so that they were called Barbershop massagers. They were used to massage the scalp and shoulders during a haircut and/or shave session.
In fact, Hammacher Schlemmer sells an updated looking version, but still retro with the huge vibrator and electrical cord.
This is even called 'The Authentic Barbershop Vibration Massager'. You can pick this up on their website for the low low price of $169.95 USD.
It might be fun to have for its retro style but honestly you can pick up a rechargeable magic wand for $169 CAD that will massage your shoulders and all your other parts.