See other o.b. ads: French (ooo.ooo.b.,
1989) - German (early 1950s) - German
(1970s) - German nude (1970s) - French
(1989) - German ("Egyptian,"
1970s)
See a Modess True or False? ad in The American
Girl magazine, January 1947, and actress Carol Lynley
in "How Shall I Tell My Daughter" booklet ad (1955) - Modess . . . . because ads (many dates).
 
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Nudity in German o.b. menstrual tampon ads
These two German ads for o.b. tampon appeared when the German company
Dr. Carl Hahn GmbH still owned o.b., before
the American firm Johnson & Johnson took over (1974). The upper ad is
from a German women's magazine, the lower from a magazine for teenagers.
Both indicate the era: the sexual revolution was
underway, and the place: Germany, which is more tolerant of nudity than
America.
The lower ad advertises a kit for girls
about to have their menarche - their first period - and contains a booklet of full-frontal nude photographs, among
other photos, of pubescent boys and girls, taken by David Hamilton, one
of whose books was recently (1998) the subject of a court action against
the Barnes & Noble bookstore in the U.S.A. That book also shows nude
girls, probably under 18 years old, a subject usually prohibited in America.
For some ads at the other end of the nudity and "decorum"
spectrum, see the Modess, because . . . advertisements
of the 1940s through the 1960s in the U.S.A.
The letters o.b., by the way, stand for
ohne Binde [here's proof!], which mean without a menstrual
pad, in German. The abbreviation itself indicates the size of the
product, an effect undoubtedly the company intends.
See other o.b. ads: French (ooo.ooo.b.,
1989) - German (early 1950s) - German
(1970s) - German nude (1970s) - French
(1989) - German ("Egyptian,"
1970s)
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Translations of the ad text sit beneath
the ads.
Below: From a German women's
magazine, 1978
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My translation of the text:
o.b. is the right tampon for the nights of your days [days - Tage -
can mean and does mean here menstrual period. Clever writing.]
When your nightgown shouldn't show that you're menstruating we recommend
o.b. Then you can be completely certain that no one sees anything when
you go to bed. And nothing happens when you get up the next morning. An
o.b. tampon absorbs the blood right from the interior of your vagina. The
strongly absorbent material takes care that not one drop of blood backs
up.because an o.b. tampon works like a sponge. And that doesn't dam blood
up but absorbs everything into it.
So the blood can't pool over night in the vagina and then suddenly
flow out when get up with your usual verve. An o.b. tampon completely suffices
to absorb everything. And if you want to be completely certain use the
next bigger size of o.b.
o.b.
Natural and secure.
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Below: From a German magazine for teens,
1981. See part of the booklet this ad advertises.
The translation lies below the ad.
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My translation of the text:
What's the name of the menstrual protection that doesn't leave young
girls alone with their questions?
Naturally o.b.
Girls in puberty have a lot of questions.
But sometimes they don't trust themselves to ask because they don't
know where to begin. Because they've never talked about it. Their girlfriend
doesn't know either. And Mom can't find the right words to answer with.
Therefore we have for all girls an o.b. kit. It contains the o.b. booklet
"Menstruation." It explains the differences between boys and
girls. What menstruation is and how it works. The signs that indicate that
one is about to start her period. Why one feels often different than usual.
And why even virgins can use tampons. Millions of girls have read this
booklet. It's helped them to adjust better. If you'd like to have this
booklet, write us. We'll send it to you together with o.b. mini and normal
tampons so you can get acquainted.
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© 2007 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute any
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