Black nozzles saved -- not white, red, blue and green

Due to several things I've decided to get rid of my collection of bags, open, closed and folding, along with attachment sets, rectal tubes, bulb syringes and 30/40 black nozzles — some still in individual boxes from back in the day when enemas were so popular the corner drug store sold extra nozzles. I expect extra enema nozzles were so mom could have her own nozzle, not because she wore them out.

Many of the nozzles came from one rural drug store who had a tray full many of unusual designs. She, the pharmacist, said she hadn't sold one in years and was glad to sell the lot of them.

All of the things I have date from when enemas came from predominantly red bags, with red hoses, metal clips and black nozzles.

I have found, through Zity, a member who collects equipment and when I sent him a message asking if he'd be interested in my collection for free he was, and was willing to send me his address, which I thought amazingly trusting and brave. I'm honored to be so trusted and when I can, likely in a few weeks, I'll be sending him a CARE package I hope he'll be pleased with.

Yesterday as I was going through the suitcase I use for storage, sorting out what was worth the postage to send, what should just go direct to the garbage (good bye old friends) such as a blue bulb with a white nozzle, several folding syringes and old bags that have seen better days, a white attachment set with a red nozzle, and a few loose white and blue nozzles plus two green ones, I realized I was tossing all but black nozzles. Not that red, white, blue and green didn't get the job done as well as black does. Rather it was if it wasn't black and preferably bat shaped it wasn't a real enema nozzle and wasn't worth keeping. A couple of the folding syringes (lovely soft red and amber rubber but past prime) had black nozzles which I removed without much thought and tossed into the CARE package pile before the syringe itself went to the landfill pile.

I tell you all this as background to my question the above got me wondering. Are there others who also feel if it isn't black a nozzle isn't worth keeping?

Thomas, Tommy, Tom

Yes- I'm entirely in agreement with you. I was raised getting frequent enemas from mom, grandma, and while in the hospital. In all cases, black baseball bat shaped nozzles were the custom. The white nozzles came much later but did not have the lasting psychological effect as the vintage black nozzles. So, what was good enough for mom and grandma, is good enough for me. The traditional vintage black baseball bat shaped nozzle, chrome clamp, red rubber open top enema with red rubber hose….. michael https://en.zity.biz/gallery/image/212297

I have found, through Zity, a member who collects equipment and when I sent him a message asking if he'd be interested in my collection for free he was

Wow, lucky fellow! Your mention of getting rid of your enema equipment brings back memories of when I did this a couple of times. I would build up a collection of bags, etc,; then feel guilty about my love of enemas and ditch them all - only to be out buying new equipment in a few weeks. What as waste, and oh how I wish I had kept all those bags that you can no longer find…

Nothing can beat those old tapered black nozzles both from a nostalgic standpoint and that they stay in place more readily. Plus there is that unique feel when they are inserted, especially when attached to a 8-9 ounce adult red bulb. Unfortunately, I never inherited any of the equipment we had as a family as a kid, except I do have my Mom's curved black douche nozzle. Thanks for this post.

Easy123 – I agree, the old black bats do have a unique feel when inserted and I've always been amazed how well they stay in place without a lot of anal scrunching to keep them in even when well slathered with Vaseline.

reddevil – I can identify with collected, taking the pledge, then seeing something that starts the buying cycle again.

One thing I've noticed is that old equipment at one point on the net, soared in price. A classic red bag, hose, metal clamp, black nozzles, especially if in an original box – not new but still with the box — was like making a down payment on a car. Recently I think prices are down quite a bit and fewer items are on offer. I wonder if this is because, in the case of price, those of us who remember with a certain nostalgic connection, the family enema bag in use are slipping into the retirement and nursing home stage and not in the market anymore.? In the case of items on offer I wonder if this is because fewer and fewer homes in estate sales have enema bags in the closet — the enema bag generation has mostly died off and those now dying are in the no-enema-except-Fleets generation?

@Thomas893 In the case of items on offer I wonder if this is because fewer and fewer homes in estate sales have enema bags in the closet..

I've known a few collectors who had (and probably still do) amazing collections of equipment - but I doubt they will they ever turn them over for sale…

It seems red rubber hosing is impossible to find these days. My memory may be dim, but I remember red rubber hosing that was as pliable as the amber and black hosing one can still get today. Is my memory wrong? Was the red hosing back in the 50s as taut as what one gets even with vintage sets now? Or was it really pliable? But yes to the nozzles question. Black bat-shaped nozzles are what I was imprinted on and still love.

@Thomas893 Concerning the price and/or value of old equipment; I think there is just a whole lot less of such equipment up for grabs currently… What was out there previously on the internet, has went into other people's collections… & yes, some of these people are older. & some of it ends up going in the trash, unfortunately… But I'm pretty sure some of these people are not all OLD. I feel very fortunate to have studied my hobby over the years… I have in my view, a very nice more than moderate collection of vintage equipment. I know that I have paid a considerable sum for a few certain pieces of equipment over the years… But I did witness prices go up much higher as the surplus diminished. I don't think value of some of these things will ever drop to rock bottom prices or such… I'm sure much of it will hold it's value… And NO; stuff from my collection is certainly not up for grabs…

There are still a few of us who are willing to part with some vintage items that seldom see the light of day.

I have also found some viable red tubing that is a nice substitute for use on my red vintage bags. It is a bit spendy though.

I have referenced some items in the Buy-Sell-Swap section if there's an interest.

@legato345 Was the red hosing back in the 50s as taut as what one gets even with vintage sets now? Or was it really pliable?

I never liked the red tubing that came with the bags I had in the 1960's. I think it was more plastic than rubber and was stiff. Closing the metal clip would often leave a drip. Glad when the white softer tubing came out, but now I can relate to wanting having red tubing.

I buy silicone and latex tubing from this company: https://www.mcmaster.com/tubing/id~3-8/ (also many other sizes, this is just 3/8" ID - which is what I usually buy). They also have all sorts of fittings, valves, etc and you can order with credit card.

I have some clear lucite nozzles I adore and also some of the barium enema styles in white, green, blue, and a weird amber/brown color, though I do have a collection of black nozzles, and an aluminum one (this is not counting the set of 3 sizes of colonic irrigation speculums I have which are made from stainless steel).

Miss Sarah: thanks for the link. I assume you buy the soft silicone rubber tubing. In red, in my case.

I buy silicone and latex tubing from this company: https://www.mcmaster.com/tubing/id~3-8/ (also many other sizes, this is just 3/8" ID - which is what I usually buy). They also have all sorts of fittings, valves, etc and you can order with credit card.

Great link Miss Sarah! Thank you.