Read the main Hartmann page
and see similar early U.K. towels (menstrual
pads) by Mosana.
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THE MUSEUM OF
MENSTRUATION AND WOMEN'S HEALTH
Early disposable menstrual napkin: Southall's
Ads from the U.S.A., and U.K. 1887 -
1894 (see more British
Southall's ads )
Assuming the date 1887 is correct,
this might be the first disposable
pad, earlier than Hartmann. But
information keeps appearing so the
final story has not yet been written.
Some ads mention that it's cheaper to burn
them or throw them away than
wash them, perfect for traveling
women. Which raises the question of
paying someone to wash them - were
there companies that did that?
The company early used an apostrophe
in two
different positions - see below
- but today uses none.
Read the main
Hartmann page and see similar
early U.K. towels (menstrual pads) by
Mosana.
I thank Ben Truwe for the scans of
the American ads, below, and Dr
Sara Read for the ad
from the United Kingdom.
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Below:
left,
from Herald of Gospel Liberty,
June 30, 1892; right,
from
The Ladies' Home Journal and
Practical Housekeeper, May,
1887.
I left in the Hires ad, which calls root beer a "temperance
beverage," that is, it
replaces alcohol.
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Below:
from The Youth's
Companion, June 2,
1892.
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Below:
from Harper's Bazaar, September 24,
1887.
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Below:
Unknown date and source. Dr Sara Read
kindly sent the scan.
Compare
this with the comparable American
ad below this.
I wonder if wool irritated
some women - if this wool
was the kind from sheep.
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Below:
from Harper's Bazaar, December 22,
1894.
Compare with the British ad
right above.
American bluster
seems to be at work
with "The Greatest Invention of the
Century for Woman's Comfort."
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Below:
from Harper's Bazaar, May 14, 1892
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© 2013 Harry Finley. It is illegal to
reproduce or distribute any of the work on
this Web site in any manner or medium without
written permission of the
author. Please report suspected violations to hfinley@mum.org
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