Normally, I contribute photos concerning enema / douche rare finds from the time of about 1945 to about the 1970’s. I think posting pictures in Zity albums is a great way of keeping hard to find stuff from getting lost forever. Zity is a kind of virtual museum for our favorite toys.
Recently, I became curious about two similar fountain syringes. The first was the Seamless / Rexall Hy-Da-Way and its Faultless made cousin, the Venus. I thought some might like to share their experiences with this type of product. If you had a “magic wand” would you bring them back? Were they easier to use than a standard open top syringe? Did you buy the Hy-Da-Way or Venus or was it someone else’s? And, whatever else you would like to share.
There were 3 different Hy-Da-Way’s. The first was similar to the square, French style open top bags we’ve seen in European photos and videos. Unlike a European bag, the rubber bag rested in a stainless steel cabinet with a cameo on the front cover to pretty it up. The bag extended from its cabinet by way of a scissor like contraption perhaps so it was easy to fill while hung up. The back of the case had a key slot like hole at the top similar to some irrigator cans allowing it to be hung by various means including a screw, nail or hook in the wall. It didn’t look like something that would be practical in a tub or shower. That much metal would chip a tub if dropped.
Hy-Da-Way’s of the 1950’s filled to 2 quarts and 10 ounces. An odd capacity. And, the product was advertised as storing away discreetly. I assume after use you would dry the bag with a towel and thus forgo hanging it up to dry in a tub or shower where others might see it or worse try to shower around it and fill it with soap, shampoo, hair, Etc. Rexall’s invention was sold as a folding / travel syringe despite what seems like a sizeable case.
Rexall created a second Hy-Da-Way. This product had a metal back and seems to have been the same 2 quarts 10 ounces but without the fancy metal case and cameo.
The Hy-Da-Way evolved some more. Perhaps in the 1960’s Rexall ditched the shiny stainless case for a pink plastic one. The cameo remained on the cover and it looks like the scissor like contraption is gone. A Worth Point ad says this syringe filled to only one quart. I suspect it filled to 2 quarts as that seemed to be the standard volume. I can’t tell if the bag was rubber or vinyl.
By the 1970’s Faultless introduced its own version of the Hy-Da-Way and dubbed it the “Venus”. It had a clear, plastic bag marked in increments of 1 quart 1.5 quart to 2 quarts although some advertising suggests that the maximum capacity was only 1.5 quarts. Similar pink plastic case to the Rexall product only a cameo of Venus herself adorned the lid.
I will post photos in albums soon. Neither product is a “rare find”. The fact that Rexall reinvented the Hy-Da-Way 3 times suggests that it was a popular product. That Faultless coveted the overall design and made minor changes also suggests it was a decent seller even if it was not as popular as a 2 quart rubber fountain syringe or travel syringe.
In closing, I look forward to reading your own stories and insights.