Pictures created by people who knew full well how they could be interpreted. For pictures to fit in here there needs to be an element of plausible deniability, although it can be a tenuous one...
Personally this doesn't feel like true theyknew material, because this is one of those "this is how they had to advertise because nobody would allow them to say the real purpose of the items" rather than "suggestive thing presented as normal with a lot of rib-to-elbow action and stifled giggles behind the scenes, often hidden from management"
It's one of those "it fits the literal definition but not the spirit" situations. Idk Maybe it's just me.
It'll never not be funny though
You're right, Chief.
And that sort of thing had been commonplace since the Victorian times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SScVqAytfHU&t=405
Video is geoblocked but I'm assuming that's a hole for carrying your axe close to your groin?
Video is geoblocked
Wild guess, are you from the UK? Pretty much all QI full episodes are available on YT on random channel but they always have something like "not available in the UK" in the titles.
It's an "electric jockstrap"
I'm gonna paste subtitles from that part. I tries editing the numbers away a bit but then couldn't be arsed
00:06:52,786 --> 00:06:56,026 explain how an electric jockstrap works. 126 00:06:57,586 --> 00:07:00,306 Is there going to be a demonstration? 127 00:07:00,306 --> 00:07:01,857 Do you know, I kind of wish there were. 128 00:07:01,881 --> 00:07:04,244 - Is that what this is? - No. 129 00:07:07,268 --> 00:07:10,426 - That's what this is. - Is it a warming thing, or...? 130 00:07:10,426 --> 00:07:13,106 An electric anything takes us into a period of time. 131 00:07:13,106 --> 00:07:16,146 - Galvanism. It's Victorian, galvanism. - Galvan, exactly. 132 00:07:16,146 --> 00:07:18,626 Everybody thought electricity would cure everything, 133 00:07:18,626 --> 00:07:21,146 stimulate everything and achieve everything. 134 00:07:21,146 --> 00:07:23,826 And so at the back of every newspaper there was an electrical 135 00:07:23,826 --> 00:07:27,626 something, a galvanic bath, but these were electric jockstraps. 136 00:07:27,626 --> 00:07:30,466 Well, presumably, because they had all sorts of things to stop boys 137 00:07:30,466 --> 00:07:32,506 playing with themselves, it must have been... 138 00:07:32,506 --> 00:07:35,266 That would stop you, wouldn't it? It would stop you, wouldn't it? 139 00:07:35,266 --> 00:07:38,026 - If you had a shock in your pants. - No, I'm thinking it might be nice. 140 00:07:38,026 --> 00:07:38,881 - Yes. - Oh, really? 141 00:07:38,905 --> 00:07:40,946 You're spot on. We men know that. 142 00:07:42,506 --> 00:07:45,506 Because there are certain code words in Victorian English. 143 00:07:45,506 --> 00:07:49,626 "Nervous and general debility, lost vigour, decline, 144 00:07:49,626 --> 00:07:52,186 and the whole train of gloomy attendants," 145 00:07:52,186 --> 00:07:54,706 was standard code for impotence. 146 00:07:54,706 --> 00:07:58,226 Enter the Heidelberg electric belt. 147 00:07:58,226 --> 00:08:00,506 There it is. 148 00:08:00,506 --> 00:08:02,306 - It's a bit high up, isn't it? - Yes. 149 00:08:02,306 --> 00:08:03,626 Oh, I see, so actually there's the thing down there. 150 00:08:03,626 --> 00:08:08,186 That's really kind of buzzing away in the important area. 151 00:08:08,186 --> 00:08:12,066 And that is actually going to cause you to, well, I'm afraid 152 00:08:12,066 --> 00:08:16,546 the phrase is probably embarrassing, they advise "seminal economy". 153 00:08:16,546 --> 00:08:18,700 - They're advising against... - Is that with easyJet? 154 00:08:18,724 --> 00:08:19,466 Yeah. 155 00:08:21,146 --> 00:08:22,306 They're advising against 156 00:08:22,306 --> 00:08:26,786 "wantonly jettisoning too much nervous substance." 157 00:08:26,786 --> 00:08:29,426 - Which basically... - Is that what they called it? 158 00:08:29,426 --> 00:08:32,786 That's code for semen. In other words, it's essentially a sex toy. 159 00:08:32,786 --> 00:08:34,786 - "Wantonly jettisoning." - It is... 160 00:08:34,786 --> 00:08:38,306 Don't wantonly jettison your nervous substance. 161 00:08:38,306 --> 00:08:40,786 I like the idea of nervous semen just coming out going... 162 00:08:43,186 --> 00:08:46,066 He's quite camp. Perhaps he's having problems with his virility 163 00:08:46,066 --> 00:08:49,666 - cos he's sleeping with the wrong sex. - Well, it might be that. 164 00:08:49,666 --> 00:08:53,066 But there genuinely was an item, as you can see, hugely advertised, 165 00:08:53,066 --> 00:08:54,546 there were lots of different... 166 00:08:54,546 --> 00:09:00,090 So is it designed then to lift the dormant chap or to de-nervify the semen? 167 00:09:00,114 --> 00:09:02,266 It's basically designed saying, 168 00:09:02,266 --> 00:09:05,786 "Would you like to enjoy the experience of a little bit 169 00:09:05,786 --> 00:09:08,826 of a tingling down there that maybe has disappeared?" 170 00:09:08,826 --> 00:09:10,226 But it probably was just like, 171 00:09:10,226 --> 00:09:12,506 "That's a damn good thing to take to a hotel room." 172 00:09:12,506 --> 00:09:14,141 Why have they gone out of fashion? 173 00:09:14,165 --> 00:09:16,186 - I know. - Are these still for sale? 174 00:09:16,186 --> 00:09:18,946 I feel like if Ann Summers did them, you could see, 175 00:09:18,946 --> 00:09:21,706 not in the upstairs bit, the downstairs bit of Ann Summers... 176 00:09:21,706 --> 00:09:22,846 Tell me about this, Jason, because I... 177 00:09:22,846 --> 00:09:25,026 Upstairs is like, just like chocolate willies and that. 178 00:09:25,026 --> 00:09:28,586 Downstairs... Someone's going to get hurt, Stephen. 179 00:09:31,346 --> 00:09:33,378 Really? I've never been in an Ann Summers. 180 00:09:33,402 --> 00:09:34,586 That's weird. You'd think it would be 181 00:09:34,586 --> 00:09:36,020 the other way round, you'd have to go upstairs in order to... 182 00:09:36,044 --> 00:09:38,307 No, you come in at ground floor level. 183 00:09:38,331 --> 00:09:40,546 I'm only going off our nearest 12 branches. 184 00:09:40,546 --> 00:09:42,186 Yes, right. 185 00:09:43,306 --> 00:09:45,506 But, yeah, that's the normal one. 186 00:09:45,506 --> 00:09:47,666 And then you sort of pop downstairs, you know, anniversary, or whatever... Good gracious. But the other thing about that is you got ten days' free trial. 189 Wow! 190 I don't know if you can see, but it's actually printed there. 191 What if you send it back and it goes to somebody else? 192 That's what I'm worried about with the free trial. 193 I know, exactly. You're using a used one. 194 It is going to get much more acceptable and decent this programme, I promise you, as we move on.
I threw some regex at it. It's not perfect.
explain how an electric jockstrap works. Is there going to be a demonstration? Do you know, I kind of wish there were. - Is that what this is? - No. - That's what this is. - Is it a warming thing, or...? An electric anything takes us into a period of time. - Galvanism. It's Victorian, galvanism. - Galvan, exactly. Everybody thought electricity would cure everything, stimulate everything and achieve everything. And so at the back of every newspaper there was an electrical something, a galvanic bath, but these were electric jockstraps. Well, presumably, because they had all sorts of things to stop boys playing with themselves, it must have been... That would stop you, wouldn't it? It would stop you, wouldn't it? - If you had a shock in your pants. - No, I'm thinking it might be nice. - Yes. - Oh, really? You're spot on. We men know that. Because there are certain code words in Victorian English. "Nervous and general debility, lost vigour, decline, and the whole train of gloomy attendants," was standard code for impotence. Enter the Heidelberg electric belt. There it is. - It's a bit high up, isn't it? - Yes. Oh, I see, so actually there's the thing down there. That's really kind of buzzing away in the important area. And that is actually going to cause you to, well, I'm afraid the phrase is probably embarrassing, they advise "seminal economy". - They're advising against... - Is that with easyJet? Yeah. They're advising against "wantonly jettisoning too much nervous substance." - Which basically... - Is that what they called it? That's code for semen. In other words, it's essentially a sex toy. - "Wantonly jettisoning." - It is... Don't wantonly jettison your nervous substance. I like the idea of nervous semen just coming out going... He's quite camp. Perhaps he's having problems with his virility - cos he's sleeping with the wrong sex. - Well, it might be that. But there genuinely was an item, as you can see, hugely advertised, there were lots of different... So is it designed then to lift the dormant chap or to de-nervify the semen? It's basically designed saying, "Would you like to enjoy the experience of a little bit of a tingling down there that maybe has disappeared?" But it probably was just like, "That's a damn good thing to take to a hotel room." Why have they gone out of fashion? - I know. - Are these still for sale? I feel like if Ann Summers did them, you could see, not in the upstairs bit, the downstairs bit of Ann Summers... Tell me about this, Jason, because I... Upstairs is like, just like chocolate willies and that. Downstairs... Someone's going to get hurt, Stephen. Really? I've never been in an Ann Summers. That's weird. You'd think it would be the other way round, you'd have to go upstairs in order to... No, you come in at ground floor level. I'm only going off our nearest 12 branches. Yes, right. But, yeah, that's the normal one. And then you sort of pop downstairs, you know, anniversary, or whatever... Good gracious. But the other thing about that is you got ten days' free trial. 189 Wow! 190 I don't know if you can see, but it's actually printed there. 191 What if you send it back and it goes to somebody else? 192 That's what I'm worried about with the free trial. 193 I know, exactly. You're using a used one. 194 It is going to get much more acceptable and decent this programme, I promise you, as we move on.
Oh yes ah definitely better.
One gets the gist but as the speaker isn't labeled and it's a panel show with 4 guests and the host, the dialogue can be somewhat confusing.
People in the UK can probably get it on BBC iplayer or smth idk. "Just the Job" is the title it's series 10 I think. This bit is after the first question, so about 5-10min in or smth.
You guys aren't keeping up with the times, this is what AI is good for.
I threw it your time-stamped dump and asked it to summarise what the product is, and it gave me this:
The product being discussed is an electric jockstrap, which was marketed in the Victorian era as a therapeutic device designed to stimulate the male genital area. It uses electric shocks (based on the concept of galvanism) to address issues like impotence, with the belief that electrical stimulation could improve vigor and cure various ailments. The jockstrap was part of a wider trend in the 19th century where electricity was thought to have healing powers. This specific product was intended to provide a tingling sensation to the area, potentially aiding in sexual health, though it could also be seen as a form of early sex toy.
Contoured to use comfortably around eyes, brows, chin and other parts of the body
Wasn't this supposed to be a facial massager, sir?
Gentle, penetrating massage
"...About seven inches long..."
What is "Overheard in the ED more often than anyone'd like to know"?
Two C batteries? That thing is a beast.
Nah, things were much less energy efficient back then.
I actually wish more devices used C and D batteries as those last longer.
I especially hate when a device uses AAA batteries when AA would easily fit.
My stylus uses AAAA batteries which was the same exact sound I made when AAAs didn’t fit inside.
Also fun fact inside of a 9V is a bunch of AAAAs you can pop out because who the fuck keeps AAAAs on hand
What?? I refuse to believe the blocky 9V is just a few AAAAs in a trenchcoat.
Well, it is. 6 cells of 1.5 V each, wired in series. That’s also why the 9 V block has both poles on the same side.
Last few I've pulled apart contained a stack of 6 oblong, coin shaped batteries. Disappoint.
I think they meant girthy
In case madame needs to pour some concrete in a pinch and has to remove any air bubbles
The size of the battery only adds capacity, not power. You gotta increase voltage.
Actually not really. Even the D type batteries would have smaller circumference than the average.
Average sized cylinder
I feel bad for the people who bought them and never thought to use them anywhere other than their face.
Contoured to use comfortably around eyes, brows, chin and other parts of the body.
Gentle penetrating massage.
I dunno if I'd chance it - I heard you can poke your eye out with one of those things...
Nah, it penetrates gently. It's in the advert.
All I see is that it costs 4,99
I think that hairstyle was popular in the mid-1960s - if I'm right, that's roughly $50 in today's money.
Edit: source is https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ using the year 1965, and the official US government inflation calculator seems to concur.
Im guessing the year is 1970. That $5 is equivalent to $31 now.
Bought right for a cheap, but otherwise quality vibrator.
There are Aliexpress vibrators roughly that price right now. They probably break right away, and the plastic is questionable to insert into the human body, but they exist.
Plastic from that era probably has the same descriptors.
wife-hack of the 50s
It would sure be traumatizing, if I just remembered finding this facial massager with a bunch of oddly interesting magazines next to my parents bed, when I was a young boy...
Sure would be. It was traumatizing enough asking my mother what a minstrel is, and getting a detailed explanation of menstruation instead. Too soon, mom!
LOL
Do we still have products that use completely different advertising on purpose like this ?
I think the Hitachi Magic Wand advertises (or rather used to advertise the last time I looked at it) itself as a muscle massager and doesn't mention anything sexual.
But it's probably the most popular wand vibrator people use
Because it was created and sold as a massager not a sex toy and it wasn’t intended to be used in anything sex related, but people used it for sex stuff and it is what popularised the product.
Hitachi rebranded it dropping the company name from the product.
Sorry, I'm so American that the only thing I can see is a bullet.
I’m pretty sure I bought a baby blue one for my gf 18 years ago.
Possible explanation for my husband's "don't chip your teeth" jokes?
Imagine being out to brunch and your good Christian Judy whips out a vibrator and nonchalantly goes to town on her face
