Actually by most accounts the first
vibrator (as opposed to the first
dildos
Men of course had prostitutes and/or mistresses available to them, while women of the same class pretty much had to suffer in silence, as you had to be pretty powerful to get away with having a boy-toy. Some doctors realised that stimulatin various parts of the female anatomy, namely the clitorus and the vaginal area, would induce a 'female paroxysm' (an orgasm), and reduced 'female hysteria'. Doesn't an orgams make You feel good? So they'd prescribe these treatments for women who'd otherwise never feel such pleasure, because nobody felt like talking about sex. The
vibrator (in reality pretty crude metal devices) was invented to help the doctor induce the paroxysms.
Times have changed, and a western doctor who induces orgasm in his patients is likely to lose his license, so now we have up-scale massage parlors where if you know the right person to book a session with, you can have an orgasm without needing to buy anyone a drink.
Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.
Those of us straight guys who've realised women often have libidos just as high as ours and can last longer during intercourse turn to cunnilingus and toys as ways to keep up. I'd much prefer to know my significant other is relaxing and enjoying herself with a toy we purchased together than having her go out on the town in search of a fling.