Peacocks Redi-Wet Rubber
Object Details
- Description
- This Peacocks brand condom was produced by the Dean Rubber Manufacturing Company of North Kansas City, Missouri during the middle of the 20th century. Dean was one of the leading manufacturers of condoms during this period.
- The single condom is wrapped in a yellow plastic packaging. The condom’s packaging notes that each condom is individually tested and hand rolled, and is hygienically lubricated. The condom is branded “redi-wet” because each condom is lubricated before it is packaged.
- In 1872, the Comstock Act had prohibited interstate commerce in obscene literature and immoral material. Condoms and other forms of birth control fell under the category of “immoral material.” As forbidden material, condoms were rarely advertised openly. However, during the early twentieth century, rising concerns about gonorrhea and syphilis led a growing number of public health advocates to call for condoms to be sold to prevent disease. In 1918, a court case in New York, (The People of the State of New York v Margaret H. Sanger) clarified that existing penal codes allowed physicians to prescribe condoms to prevent disease. Named after Judge Frederick Crane who wrote the opinion in the case, the Crane decision opened the door for condom manufacturers to openly advertise and sell condoms, provided they were sold as a disease preventative.
- Peacock's Reservoir Ends were sold as a prophylactic or preventive against disease. Among the more expensive condoms sold during the early to mid-twentieth century, Peacock condoms were sold primarily in drug stores. As was true with most more expensive condoms, Peacocks were tested to ensure that they had no tears or rips.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of Blanche E. Reid
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- date made
- ca 1930s - 1950s
- ID Number
- 1984.0351.277
- accession number
- 1984.0351
- catalog number
- 1984.0351.277
- collection
- Reid Drugstore
- maker
- Dean Rubber Manufacturing Company
- Object Name
- Condom
- contraceptive, condom
- Other Terms
- ?; Condom; Contraceptives; Drugs
- Measurements
- overall: 6.7 cm x 2.4 cm x .3 cm; 2 5/8 in x 15/16 in x 1/8 in
- overall: 1 in x 2 3/4 in x 1/4 in; 2.54 cm x 6.985 cm x .635 cm
- place made
- United States: Missouri, Kansas City
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Medicine
- associated subject; web subject
- Birth Control/Contraception
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Subject
- Sex
- Record ID
- nmah_737974
