A.E. Gusman Druggist's Sundries; Martin's Ubets Tested Prophylactics
date: label: Date made
content: c. 1940
label: date made
content: ca 1940
name: label: maker
content: Martin-Glassman Co.
label: maker
content: Permanent Sign & Display Co.
notes: label: Description
content: This rectangular, red metal advertising sign has a gold border and two beige panels. The top panel has red and blue print, advertising "A.E. Gusman" and "Martin-Glassman Co." The bottom panel has blue printing and a photographic image of an opened "Martin's Ubets" condom/prophylactic package. The metal sign holds a calendar pad which was furnished upon request. An advertisement for prophylactics would be hidden under the attached calendar pad. Printed below the ad, text reads "Calendar pad for ensuing years furnished upon request."
label: Description
content: In 1872, the Comstock Act had prohibited interstate commerce in obscene literature and immoral material. Condoms and other forms of birth control fell under the category of “immoral material.” As forbidden material, condoms were rarely advertised openly. However, during the early twentieth century, rising concerns about gonorrhea and syphilis led a growing number of public health advocates to call for condoms to be sold to prevent disease. In 1918, a court case in New York, (The People of the State of New York v Margaret H. Sanger) clarified that existing penal codes allowed physicians to prescribe condoms to prevent disease. Named after Judge Frederick Crane who wrote the opinion in the case, the Crane decision opened the door for condom manufacturers to openly advertise and sell condoms, provided they were sold as a disease preventative.
label: Description
content: In the wake of this decision, condom manufacturers often sold their products directly to drug stores. Advertisements like this were used by condom distributors to promote the legal sale of condoms.
label: Description
content: In the late 1930s, after condoms were determined to be a medical device, the federal government began test condoms to ensure that they did not have tears or holes. In 1938, condoms shipped by the Martin-Glassman Corporation were seized in a raid and the company was charged with “adulteration and misbranding [of condoms] in violation of the Food and Drug Act.”
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: associated subject; web subject
content: Birth Control/Contraception
label: associated subject; web subject
content: Advertising Devices
label: associated subject; web subject
content: Sexually Transmitted Diseases
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Puchase - George Bentley
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1982.0481.01
label: accession number
content: 1982.0481
label: catalog number
content: 1982.0481.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Sign
label: Object Name
content: Condom
label: Object Name
content: advertising device, sign
label: Object Name
content: advertising device, sign, condoms
label: Object Name
content: advertising device, calendar pad
label: Object Name
content: advertising device, calendar
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: .5 cm x 24 cm x 39 cm; 3/16 in x 9 7/16 in x 15 3/8 in
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in x 15 5/8 in; 1.27 cm x 24.13 cm x 39.6875 cm