Historical information

These breast pumps were known as breast relievers or breast exhausters. They were a refinement of the much earlier 'sucking glass'. The breast pump was refined during the Victorian age.

Glass breast pumps were used to manually express milk for the infant. These pumps were in use from the early 1920s to the late 1960s. They can also be used to stimulate lactation. These pumps were widely used in the 1950s by mothers of premature babies. The milk was expressed by hand in the home, then transported to the hospital to feed the premature infant.

Physical description

Breast pump, Coronet brand. Consists of glass bulb and red rubber pump, housed in original box. Box consists of cardboard lid and base and is labelled "CORONET/ BRAND/ BREAST RELIEVER/ MADE IN AUSTRALIA/". "DR. JOHN GREEN" written in pen on box label.