See more ads for
menarche-education booklets: Marjorie
May's Twelfth Birthday (Kotex, 1933), Tampax tampons (1970, with
Susan Dey), Personal
Products (1955, with Carol Lynley), and
German o.b. tampons
(lower ad, 1970s)
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Kotex box and menstrual pad, 1966
(U.S.A.)
This is an early (the first?) pad with a wrapper
for disposal, similar to the
disposal bags found in women's public
toilets but not as vibrant.
Also probably novel is the window on the box
allowing the viewer to see the contents,
usually a no-no in menstrual
packaging. In the 1920s, famous
efficiency expert Dr. Lillian Gilbreth advised
just the opposite in order to hide
the purpose of the box.
The box was damaged and lacking five of
the eight wrapped pads when I received
it from the donor.
Usually a belt
held these pads in place, or sometimes a
safety pin attached to underpants. But
companies, Kotex included, also made special
underpants to hold them. Early in
the 20th century women could also wear a
sanitary
apron that held the pad in place
and protected their dresses from
leakage.
I thank the donor!
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Below:
The box measures 4 1/8 x 5 7/8 x 2
3/8" (10.6 x 16 x 6 cm). A piece of
thin transparent plastic film covers
the window from the inside although it
is loose. The wrapped
pads peek out, spared their usual
fate.
The bottom line
reads, "Convenient for purse, for
luggage, for storage in the home."
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Below:
The two sides are identical. The flap
at top together with the opposite flap
are all what remain of the box top.
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Below:
The bottom of the box. The missing
top might look the same.
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Below:
The back of the box.
The words in the yellow box read,
You will find eight regular
size KOTEX
feminine napkins in this package,
folded
and individually wrapped for greater
convenience and protection. Perfect
for
purse, for luggage, and for storage in
the
home. . . . a new idea for your
personal
convenience.
® Registered
Trademark -- Marca Registrada
© 1966
Kimberly-Clark [mark] Corp.,
Neenah, Wis.
Made in U.S.A.
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Other
Kotex pads around 1966: 1959,
1969,
1974
© 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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