See instructions for the American 1936 Tampax - and the box, etc. See a very early Tampax ad (1936) - a very early Tampax box and contents - more early commercial tampons
See more Tampax items: Was Tampax the first French commercial tampon? Tampax menstrual tampons, 1938, France and U.S.A. compared. American ad from August 1965 - nudity in an ad: May 1992 (United Kingdom) - a sign advertising Tampax during World War II - the original patent - an instruction sheet from the 1930s
The influential Dickinson Report (1945) - Early commercial tampons
Ad Aug 1965 - actress Susan Dey ad, 1970 - gymnast Mary Lou Retton ad, 1986 - ad "Are you sure I'll still be a virgin?" Feb. 1990 - ad (British, nude) 1992 - Tampax sign (World War II) - ad, British, 1994 (the thong advantage)
Australian douche ad (ca. 1900) - Fresca douche (date ?) - Kotique douche 1974 ad - Liasan (1) ad - Liasan (2) ad - Lysol 1928 ad - Lysol 1948 ad - Marvel 1926 ad - Midol 1938 ad - Midol 1959 booklet - o.b. German (papyrus tampons) - Pristeen 1969 ad - o.b. German (nude) - Sterizol 1926 ad - Vionell spray 1970 ad (Germany) - the odor page

A British Tampax ad using nudity (1992) - And see other ads directed at teenagers.

See a Modess True or False? ad in The American Girl magazine, January 1947, and actress Carol Lynley in "How Shall I Tell My Daughter" booklet ad (1955) - Modess . . . . because ads (many dates).
CONTRIBUTE to Humor, Words and expressions about menstruation and Would you stop menstruating if you could?
Some MUM site links:
homepage | MUM address & What does MUM mean? | e-mail the museum | privacy on this site | who runs this museum?? |
Amazing women! | the art of menstruation | artists (non-menstrual) | asbestos | belts | bidets | founder bio | Bly, Nellie | MUM board | books: menstruation and menopause (and reviews) | cats | company booklets for girls (mostly) directory | contraception and religion | costumes | menstrual cups | cup usage | dispensers | douches, pain, sprays | essay directory | extraction | facts-of-life booklets for girls | famous women in menstrual hygiene ads | FAQ | founder/director biography | gynecological topics by Dr. Soucasaux | humor | huts | links | masturbation | media coverage of MUM | menarche booklets for girls and parents | miscellaneous | museum future | Norwegian menstruation exhibit | odor | olor | pad directory | patent medicine | poetry directory | products, current | puberty booklets for girls and parents | religion | Religión y menstruación | your remedies for menstrual discomfort | menstrual products safety | science | Seguridad de productos para la menstruación | shame | slapping, menstrual | sponges | synchrony | tampon directory | early tampons | teen ads directory | tour of the former museum (video) | underpants & panties directory | videos, films directory | Words and expressions about menstruation | Would you stop menstruating if you could? | What did women do about menstruation in the past? | washable pads
Leer la versión en español de los siguientes temas: Anticoncepción y religión, Breve reseña - Olor - Religión y menstruación - Seguridad de productos para la menstruación.

 

Cardboard store countertop ad for French Tampax, probably 1938 and
Tampax magazine ads
in Marie Claire magazine, 1938, France

The American Kotex pads and Tampax tampons marched around the world in the 1930s, the pad having gotten about a 10-year lead. The tampon had the tougher path, being strange to most women, who normally used a piece of cotton or wool outside their bodies to absorb menstrual discharge.

But as the Dutch donor of these countertop-sign scans writes (I added the color),
To the question of how long Tampax was on sale in France (and the
Netherlands): I think only in 1938, maybe early 1939. [See French Tampax tampons and their box from 1938.] I have several Dutch and French advertisements dated in 1938 and none from 1939 and afterwards (and nothing from 1936/1937). [The Dutchman collects published artifacts of WW II and of menstrual products.]

I think the concept was too modern for that time with the looming World
War II. Also, disposable sanitary napkins were new in those times. Many French (and Dutch) women I think used washable napkins [German, Norwegian, Italian examples] before WW II.

The donor comments on the photographer of the woman:
The photo on the display is from Pierre Boucher and if you google that name, it turns out he was a modern photographer of the thirties (started in about 1935) and beyond! And Tampax was the same, especially in the thirties: a modern concept of sanitary protection. (See his art: https://www.google.nl/#q=pierre+boucher+photo ) NB: it is possible that another photographer also was called Pierre Boucher but I think about 99.9% not.

More early counter top displays
for tampons: Both 1938, U.S.A.: B-ettes, Fibs
A Dutchman who has generously contributed many items and scans to MUM contributed these scans, plus commentary.

Below:  The donor said the countertop display measures 178 x 267mm (7 x 10.5"). See an earlier American tampon ad (for fax) using a swimsuit, a common motif even later. It showed women need not be worried by water when menstruating.
Below: My translation, top down:











No more
PADS
belts
pins
...

[The large black or blue 0 I take to mean NO - clever. Reminds me of a great French 1989 o.b. ad. And of course the words repeat the American Tampax battle cry of freedom (a song from 1862) and of other brands.]


A [The] Woman finally knows Freedom!



Photo Pierre Boucher [see discussion above.]




TAMPAX
registered trademark


MENSTRUAL TAMPONS
SANITARY PROTECTION BY internal ABSORPTION
INVISIBLE

EVERY NORMAL WOMEN IS ABLE TO USE TAMPAX
Below: The back of the counter-top ad above showing its
support and an envelope (80 x 86 x 18mm) to contain - what?
The scan donor suggests that little folders or leaflets explaining
Tampax's virtues
filled it.


Below: See the enlarged, translated ad from a 1938 Marie Claire magazine.


Below:  See the enlarged, translated ad from a 1938 Marie Claire magazine.


Below: See the enlarged, translated ad from a 1938 Marie Claire magazine. Below: See the enlarged, translated ad from the 14 October 1938 Marie Claire magazine.

See a small French Tampax ad from the 1960s - 1970s.

More Tampax items: See instructions for the 1936 American Tampax - Dutch Tampax ads from 1938 (and here, virtually identical to a contemporary American ad) - American ad from August 1965 - nudity in an ad: May 1992 (United Kingdom) - an American sign advertising Tampax during World War II - the original patent - an instruction sheet from the 1930s

copyright 2014 Harry Finley