From Idea to Prototype – the Venus II
It may have been on a sunny spring afternoon sometime in 1993 in a garage in Illinois, USA, when Rick Gellert tested the first working prototype of the Venus II. His business partner, Russian engineer Valentin Tsitrin, who had been helping with development since 1992, may have held the receiver. Or perhaps he wasn't there for the test run at all. Either way, Rick must have experienced a formidable orgasm, because his years of development work had finally paid off.
As a passionate enthusiast of sexual self-stimulation, Rick had spent several years trying to develop an automatic masturbation device. An extensive detour into the world of pool equipment had not produced the desired results. It was only when he looked to agriculture and milking machines that the resourceful developer found the right track.
The Venus II is built on essentially the same principle as today's standard model, the Venus 2000. Motor, pump, tubes – not much has changed about the simple but practical construction. In 1996, the US Patent followed.
From Prototype to Venus 2000: Abco Comes on Board
In 1998 the machine received a comprehensive redesign. Abco Research Associates has had decades of experience developing and marketing sex machines. Their Sybian, launched in the late 80s, is certainly well known. Shortly after the Venus II was developed, Abco helped with marketing and ultimately purchased the patent and marketing rights in 1997. Dave Lampert, then president of Abco, emphasised that the device already had an excellent concept at its core. The improvements came in response to feedback from an enthusiastic customer base. Instead of being fixed inside a carry case, the Venus 2000 – now marketed as Venus for Men – received its current iconic design. The motor and controls also received an upgrade.
Our Milking Machine at LUX - the Trusty Workhorse
Not much has changed since then, at least visually. The Venus 2000 is a popular device and practically no dominatrix studio is without one. Of course we have one here at LUX, and we take good care of this near-indestructible workhorse. Only the receivers, affectionately called "the tube" or "the piston", require regular deep cleaning and maintenance, including fresh tubing.
In ten years of studio operation we had trouble with the Venus just once – right before a client session, a colleague plugged it in and "poof" – the fuse blew. The cause? A cable had come loose inside the control unit and caused a short circuit. Being naturally curious, I unscrewed the device and had a look inside. Neat layout, solid components, everything where it should be – except for the scorch marks in the control unit, which were concerning. So I screwed everything back together, packed the device safely and sent it off to Bavaria to venus2000.de. The official European distributor sells and services both the Venus and the Sybian. They also carry suitable accessories – including natural rubber liners.
It took less than a week before we heard that the Venus was on its way back to us, fully operational. Since then it has been back in use multiple times a week without any issues.
Using the Venus correctly is not entirely simple – but it is easy to learn. Here at Studio LUX we hold regular internal team training sessions. In addition to care, cleaning and maintenance, we also share our best strategies and scenarios for using it.
Curious fact:
The Venus 2000 is the most popular device on the market, but it comes with a hefty price tag. As a result, there are quite a few tinkerers and hobbyists.
Rarely, however, does this lead to a practical product. But Reddit user Roddnik1337 seems to have developed a pretty good version:
There's also a fitting video for it:
What Do I Do With the Venus 2000?
The milking machine is popular in scenarios around tease & denial, forced orgasms and total surrender.
I personally find it wonderful to restrain a subject helplessly and let the machine do all the work, with nothing but a well-fitting piston attached. The body is at my mercy, and so are its functions. I control the sensation, the desire and the orgasm. Wonderful. The machine is even less merciful than I am. Once attached, set and secured, it pumps for as long as I want. No amount of whining and begging, squirming and pleading will help – and unlike muscles, it never gets tired. Mine certainly don't. I can even sit back and enjoy your helpless, futile attempts to regain control. Delightful.
I particularly enjoy your orgasm. The first, the second, for the more experienced the third or fourth – and then I watch with interest as you transform into a pleading bundle of overwhelming sensation. Because whether you're sensitive or spent after coming, the machine doesn't care. It just keeps going.
What's important is that you bring two additional things to the start of the session: the right piston in the right length, and even more importantly, the right diameter. And enough lube. As always, there is no such thing as too much lube. Here at Studio LUX everything is ready on a handy trolley. I simply wheel it into the room, plug in the power and the piston, and the fun begins.
How Do I Clean the Venus 2000?
In a professional studio, thorough cleaning is everything. Our onboarding process spans several days for good reason, and includes dedicated training on cleaning and disinfection alone. After all, Studio LUX sets industry standards not only in terms of working conditions but also when it comes to hygiene.
We keep a dedicated cleaning area and separate utensils for the Venus.
After use, the machine is completely disconnected and all tubes and cables removed. The housing is wiped down on the outside to remove any residue (such as fingerprints covered in silicone oil) and then indirectly disinfected by applying disinfectant to a clean cloth and wiping it over the surface. We do the same with the cables and tubes.
The receivers require a more thorough and comprehensive clean. They go first into a bucket of soapy water and then to our wash station, where they are completely disassembled. Each part is thoroughly cleaned of any lubricant and biological residue, washed, rinsed and disinfected. The tubes, caps with pressure relief valves and liners then go out to dry. Only once everything is completely dry are the receivers reassembled. Each part is also inspected for wear and functionality before being returned to service.
This means you can rely on receiving a fresh, meticulously cleaned and disinfected receiver every time. We know that even our extremely thorough cleaning process isn't enough for some people. There are indeed Venus clients who have built up their own collection of receivers and bring them along. We welcome that initiative and appreciate clients who think these things through.
How Do I Book a Session With the Venus 2000 in Berlin?
At BDSM Studio LUX you have virtually free choice. Almost all team members are trained in using the Venus 2000 and are happy to put it to use. The few LUX members who have not yet been trained are already on the waiting list for the next workshop. We may even need a willing practice subject for that. A word of warning though: the prerequisite is a solid amount of experience with the milking machine – and you get that, of course, in exciting sessions with us. So let's go:
