[||!prliignore10||Editor's Note||!prliignore11||: for those of you out there who haven't quite yet embraced this subject, be sure to take careful note -- you might enjoy what you learn!]

A Quick History Of The Vibrator

You may think vibrators are a modern woman’s invention: a quick buzz on a long flight to Hong Kong, the solution to partners who have a chronically bad sense of direction, an endorphin hit before a meeting with the board of directors…But oh no. Vibrators are hardly a new idea, in fact, your mother may have owned a Hitachi Magic Wand. These posed as massagers for aches and pains, but handily enough, also came with G-spot or vaginal attachment, and a prostate stimulator for Dad. You can still get one of these darlings today. Bridge that generation gap.

Vibrators In The Forties

Your grandmother may have had a vibrator that doubled as a nail-buffer, back scratcher, hair brush or banana shaped attachment for her vacuum cleaner. Very popular items from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Vibrators At The Turn Of The Century

Your great grandmother may have owned a hand-held vibrator: by 1917 there were more vibrators than toasters in American homes, the fifth most popular appliance. A well known “Blood Circulator” was the “Veedee Vibrator”, used to cure dandruff, headaches and halitosis. Right.

Your great great grandmother may have gone to her doctor for a session with the industrial vibrator, the “manipulator”. It claimed to help women reach paroxysm in less than ten minutes, a very efficient therapy session to cure against hysteria: the mysterious ailment that over seventy five percent of the female population suffered from at the turn of the century. Hysteria caused moodiness, bloating and lustfulness. It should be noted that these vibrators weren’t considered improper. Why, only an object that penetrated the vagina would be sexual! And thank God for technology, as many husbands simply weren’t willing to take on the medical procedure and masturbation was a sin. Hysteria was first diagnosed and treated by Hippocrates and the ancient Greeks.

My Three Top Vibrator Picks

I own a few of the more popular items that can be purchased online for thirty dollars or under. The Rampant Rabbit is a vibrating dildo with a bunny shaped clit stimulator, the vibrator of the “nineties”, the bachelorette prize. Many people swear by ol’ hoppity hop. But I find you have to have the right “fit” and frankly I find it noisy and tacky. But for that line of toys, I would say it’s the best of the lot and they do keep improving the model.

If you’re going to go for a cheap “starter” I much prefer the Fukuoku 9000 Finger Vibrator. It’s also under thirty bucks and runs on a couple of watch batteries. It’s discrete, cute, and slips onto your finger with a clip. It packs a pretty good punch for its size and not too loud. I find it unobtrusive and good for using with a partner. Unfortunately, it only has one speed.

Ladies and gentlemen, at the end of the day, you do get what you pay for and your pleasure is worth investing in. Hands down, my new favorite vibrator is the Lily by Lelo. It runs just under $140.00.

What a gorgeous line of products this Swedish company has! I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Lelo makes “pleasure objects”, works of art, not tacky sex toys. Lily has body safe materials, phthalate free abs, it comes with a rechargeable battery and charger, five stimulation modes and a one year warranty. I love the shape of Lily. She fits smoothly in the hand, has a warm and sensual satin finish, the vibration controls are perfectly situated for easy access and this vibrator is quiet — the quietest friend I’ve ever met. She also comes in a shiny version, the jewel-like Nea, or if you want to go for ultimate luxury, the Yva, plated in 19 karat gold. The benefit of gold or silver is you can heat it up or slightly chill it. Yummy.

Gives a whole new meaning to the Beach Boys song, Good Vibrations, now doesn’t it?

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