More ads for teens (see also introductory
page for teenage advertising): Are you in the know? (Kotex napkins and Quest napkin powder, 1948, U.S.A.),
Are you in the know? (Kotex
napkins and belts, 1949, U.S.A.)Are you in
the know? (Kotex napkins, 1953, U.S.A.),
Are you in the know? (Kotex
napkins and belts, 1964, U.S.A.), Freedom
(1990, Germany), Kotex (1992, U.S.A.), Pursettes (1974, U.S.A.), Pursettes (1974, U.S.A.), Saba (1975, Denmark)
See early tampons and a list of tampon on this site - at least the ones I've cataloged.
 
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World War II Tampax Sign
Women could buy the first Tampax tampon in the early 1930s. Tampax
was possibly not the first commercial tampon - there were probably
two or more other brands before it in the U.S.A.,
although without applicators - but it was the
first successful tampon, just as Kotex was
not the first
disposable menstrual pad in America, but it was the first successful
one.
But Tampax was not an instant hit. Apparently
not until after World War II, which ended in 1945, did it really catch on,
when it, and other tampons, also appeared widely in Europe, introduced by
Americans. (This museum has a box of Tampax written in French, marked by
someone at Tambrands as being from before World War II, part of a great
gift from Tambrands to MUM.)
One factor that helped its and other tampons' growth was the Dickinson Report, which explained to reluctant Americans
certain advantages tampons had over pads. But we know that many women, even
today, must overcome inhibitions about virginity and penetrating their bodies
before using tampons.
Below is a sign advertising Tampax during
World War II, owned by Kevin Hoffman, of Naples, Florida, who kindly sent
me the photo. I suspect the Glida - how descriptive!
- purse bag is a case for a few tampons women
could carry in a purse; similar ones are available today. Mr. Hoffman speculates
that the sign hung in drug and department stores.
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© 1998 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce
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