Antiques on Ebay

I thought this was interesting... anyone have a guess as to what year it was produced?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sears-Combination-Hot-Water-Bottle-Fountain-Syringe/223735777934?hash=item3417b10a8e:g:4tMAAOSwQ3Jdt37c

I'd guess about 1950 to 1955. I'm fairly sure it was actually made by Faultless because of the course thread on the nozzles. Davol, BFG, Rexall, and Seamless all used fine threads.

Sure looks old.... oh, I see a rip, but would love to get it if just for those nozzles! The "Sears Approved" seal on the front of the box made me chuckle as I envisioned the approval process requiring a product tester taking a large enema with it...

Neat. I love looking up vintage enema stuff on eBay, there is some great stuff there.

As Sean indicated, most likely from the early to mid-1950s. The giveaway to this time period is the elaborate pinch type metal shutoff clamp, as well as the original price of $1.98. As I remember, they ceased using those clamps around 1960 or so and went with the simple metal shutoff that was used until the modern plastic junk shutoff still used today.

WET,

In thinking about the bag a bit more, I'll revise the age estimate to perhaps 10 to 20 years older.

The black hose is pretty uncommon after WW II but more common in the 1930s (until quite recently when black equipment has become popular in connection with B&D, etc ) After WW II, the common color was red, with white appearing in the mid 1960s when hoses changed from rubber to plastic.

Also, the 1960s Faultless syringes often had a different style of douche nozzles.

As you noted, the clamp is unusual. Metal clamps also went out in about the mid 1960s - 1970s. It's photographed from an odd angle, but it's an uncommon design I think.... neither the simple one-piece common in the lower priced syringes, nor the two-piece lever style common in the more expensive models.

These old enemas I think are nice to look at, but they usually have problems. I purchased a Davol Paris that the bag was in good shape, no dry rot but the tubing and the adapter washer was hard as a rock causing it to leak.. After getting a new red tube off ebay, the adapter washer was hard to replace but eventually I got it. Now the brass female thread that is in the bag is wore out or distorted causing the bag to be pretty much useless.

So take your chances buying these antique bags.

You can make a replacement adapter gasket washer from piece of 1/16" rubber sheet with an X-Acto knife. It's easy.

The brass insert is in the mouth of a Combination syringe I presume. They mostly get damaged if they are stepped on or something like it.

If it's out of round, you can probably bend it back to be serviceable with a C-clamp used carefully. It's not a precision thread.

I got the red version of this bag from Sears when I was 5 yrs old on Xmas morning 1950. Maybe gives you a firm time line to start from.

Charlie,

Why on earth were you given a bag for Christmas? How would a 5 year old even know what a bag is?

Do you mean the bag was used on you?

Came in box with my name on it...had no idea it's purpose...until later that night.....?

Charlie,

Your story is beyond bizarre. Do you know who the gift giver was? Was it your mom?

At 5 it was probably not a joke, because you'd have been too young to understand.

Had you received enemas before this happened? Was the bag used on you often afterwards?

Very strange, IMO.

I heard of getting coal in your Xmas stocking, but an enema bag?!

Maybe it was his mother's way of switching him from a bulb syringe to the Enema bag. After all, if "Santa" (SATAN) Church Lady

brought the bag, it must be something he knew you would need.

Dan

I do from time to time review the Ebay offerings as to all things ' vintage ' . I missed this one but would think that by observing the hose and pipes that this fountain syringe to be a mid-1950's Sears catalog item . I still have many of our old ' Sears ' Spring / Winter large catalogs from the decade of the 1950's which showcased a large inventory of various enema / douche equipment . All was so ' open ' in that time as to displayed equipment for our home enemas . I do like the ' old threaded adult rectal and douche pipes ' as shown on the Ebay site sales item . I'm just a ' fan ' of ' threaded plastic pipes at the end of the hose and the ' metal shut off clamp ' as well . There was just something seemingly more ' secure ' as to these attachments as opposed to the delivery rubber hose ' slip on ' pipes . Just my preference .

Back in the 50's the nozzels and connector and caps were made out of bakelite plastic and because of the plastic they were black. The white nozzels started to apper in the mid 60's . Also the older bags had red hoses, the 60's vintage were white , no expenation for that.

My Mom had a Devol comfy combination bag , with black nozzel , black cap and connector , red hose and a metal clamp .it was 1950's vintage.

Obviously, these are used items. I have to wonder about the infection risk here. Anyone know about that, or how to disinfect them? After all, we DO know how they were used.

@toni_78

Toni,

Actually the nozzles were not made of Bakelite, but "hard rubber". Hard rubber was invented ca 1840; Bakelite was patented in 1909.

Hard rubber softens in boiling water (hence it's easy to bend the douche nozzles to the curve desired) but Bakelite doesn't soften.

As to the hose color, natural rubber is brownish. Pigments are added to color it. Red and black pigments were likely the cheapest, hence their widespread use. White pigments had issues and virtually all vintage white rubber items are hard as a rock today. Also, the amount of pigment to make something look white is likely much larger than the corresponding red or black.

It's a puzzle why the hoses are very often hard now, while the bag from the same package is still fully flexible. The rubbers may have been formulated differently. It's a real pity that ribbed rubber hose seems to be extinct today.

I've bought and sold many dozens off EBAY and found some real gems. I may sell some of my collection soon and will post them here on the buy and sell thread. I do have a few old Davol Starlet bags that are new with red rubber hose. I saw one a month ago that sold for 150 bucks.

To answer a few ?s...I had never had an enema before that xmas......

mom was smirking pretty good when the xmas wrapping was torn off...so i figure it was she and the neighbor lady's idea to get us started on a few memorable enemas.

I always disinfect a used bag with at least a 10% bleach to water solution.

We darn, @charlie_oneal, all I got for xmas in 1950 was an Lionel electric train. LOL

My best guess is late 1940s

They are hard to fate because they changed so little over 100 years, so that's a good guess and nothing more

I see the bidding has ended and it sold for $3.25. The bag is no good, but getting those old nozzles and that metal clip for that price is really good, no?

Yes, for the three hard rubber nozzles and the metal clip, the price was right even when you add shipping.