An "extremely rare anti-masturbation device"

I'm sure this didn't cause any psychological issues in the Catholic boys forced to wear this.

The rare 19th century item is made of copper and was designed to be worn by boys so they could not commit the 'sin'. Attached to a belt it would have encased the genitalia. The bizarre antique dates back to around 1880 and was used in Catholic France. It is being offered for sale on auction website eBay with a starting price of £750.

Seller David Burns, of Curious Science, says that during a quarter of a century dealing in medical curiosities he has never had one for sale... "This is the first example we have offered for sale in 24 years. The condition is excellent. Three and half inches top to base."

An "extremely rare anti-masturbation device"

Previously: Antique anti-masturbation device

• [Garnett Schuyler]

  Ouch.

  • [jerwin]

    Ouch

• [Daniel Cooper]

  In 1800s Australian prisons (and British I imagine) they used to tie effectively ping-pong bats around your hands.  Which would kind of suck.

• [petertrepan]

  Three and half inches top to base.

  The Designer: “What? That’s average, right?”

  • [jandrese]

    I think this device was designed for 7 year old choirboys. 

    There is a dark irony when the priest then sexually abuses the boy. 

• [tristan eldritch]

  Jesus.  I’m glad these things are extremely rare.

• [Sagodjur]

  I could see someone buying this as their sole costume piece for Burning Man.

  • [Nathan Hornby]

    It would make for a rather graphic codpiece.

  • [TheMudshark]

     It does bear a certain likeness to Lord Humungus.

    • [Antinous / Moderator]

      I had always imagined that Lord Humungus would be more, well, humungus.

• [Michael Mars]

  I saw this on Antiques Choadshow.

• [lknope]

  I like the incongruity of air holes in the testicular region to make this uncomfortable device a leeetle bit more comfortable.

  • [SomeGuyNamedMark]

     Important to let the balls breath

• [nixiebunny]

  I’m guessing that it’s rare because any boy forced to wear this would immediately remove it and crush it into a tiny ball of evil copper. 

• [SomeGuyNamedMark]

  Straight out of steampunk porn

• [vonbobo]

  “Every sperm is sacred”

• [Erik Denning]

  So unfair.

• [mobobo]

  where there’s a will there’s a…device to frustrate it.

• [Halloween_Jack]

  I’m still of the opinion that most objects like this were meant entirely for the same purpose as their modern counterparts–addressing a particular sexual fetish–and that  the whole “Oh, no! They totally used to use these!” modern assertion that they were in more or less common use is part of the fantasy.

  • [blueelm]

    Yeah, but then you read medical texts describing the process of curing female children of the urge to masturbate by burning their clitoris off with a hot iron.

    • [jerwin]

      I don’t think Plain Facts for Old and Young deserves to be called a medical text, but it’s pretty horrific. 

      • [Ladyfingers]

         America never seemed to fully recover from Kellogg and his ilk.

    • [Halloween_Jack]

      Yes, but that’s the sort of thing that can’t be undone. Most of the locks on these sorts of devices seem to be of the sort that could be undone by someone with a bent hairpin.

• [thecleaninglady]

  Remember, the people writing your laws were subjected to shaming and often pain in relationship to their sexuality. Also, regular beatings and humiliation. 

  Explains why they are acting as they are acting.

  Fun fact: research shows that widespread changes in society are preceded by widespread adoption of new parenting practices (Robin Grille’s Parenting for a Peaceful World).

  • [pduggie]

    helicopter parenting vs the free range parenting

• [Joseph Francis]

  Wow. Seems like a lot of trouble. Couldn’t they just use Graham crackers?

• [jerwin]

  The definitive article on this sort of quackery is ^ Bullough, Vern (1987). “Technology for the Prevention of ‘les maladies produites par la masturbation”. Technology and Culture (Johns Hopkins University Press) 28 (4): 828–832. doi:10.2307/3105184. JSTOR 3105184.PMID 11612372

• [pduggie]

  In 150 years we’ll have the waterboard from the dad who waterboarded his daughter sold as a antique “extremely rare” disciplinary board from the early 21st century and think it says something about the general culture of the USA.

  • [BrotherPower]

    …and both things will be true.

• [voiceinthedistance]

  I’ve heard of brass balls before, but this is ridiculous.

  BTW:  I wonder how this was secured at the top? And where do the electrodes attach?

  • [Ray Perkins]

     There’s a row of small holes at the top for attaching to a belt. Strange looking colander, though.

• [Palomino]

  Looks like a strap-on to me. And copper is good birth control

• [SmokingHeartDesigns]

  That will conduct like crazy.

• [Matthew Ivan Hardinger]

  The blacksmith that that made this was whispering “Oh dear, oh my” and giggling to himself.

• [Thad]

  The good news is …it’s extremely rare!