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The secrets of the antique scuttle, perhaps the most misunderstood piece of shaving gear

I use it in the following way. I soak a shaving brush in warm water, and then I pour out the water. From above I make soap that flows down and hangs like stalactites in a cave. I dip the brush into the middle to scoop up the soap. And of course, I use miniature brushes that are our grandfathers' brushes. Mastab of a shaving brush on a modern background from Zenit.

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According to the instructions on Geo F Trumper's Officers and Gentlman's shaving soap and Oxford Blue soap (to be used with the matching mugs), the instructions were to "attach the soap" by "wetting the bottom of the puck" and pressing down. So based off of that my impression is that soaps were meant to be "attached" into the soap basin and loaded while in the soap basin?
 
There are some very informative older threads:
 
I don't own any vintage mugs or scuttles, so I I am not able to join you in your vintage awesomeness. 😥

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Having said that however, I do own a modern Captains Choice Starry Night scuttle. The purpose of a scuttle, is to keep your lather and brush warm. For those who live in northern climates, a shaving scuttle is absolutely essential. So here is how I do it, with my modern CC scuttle...

Step 1.

I heat up water in my electric kettle, and then pour the water into the mouth of the scuttle, to fill up the heat chamber.

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Step 2.

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I use a Bouillon teaspoon, to scoop up the soap from the puk, I then place that soap into the scuttles lather area, and then I use my thumb, to smoosh it down evenly.

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Step 3.

Using the same spoon, I put a teaspoon of water into the lather to start. And then I begin working up a lather with my brush. As the lather begins to get pasty, I add another teaspoon to the lather, and continue working it till I get as close to a creamy yogurt consistency of lather possible.

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Scuttle Notes.

In my experience, shaving scuttles have such a small lather area, that its literally impossible to work up a lather, using a large shaving brush. I first tried to work up a lather using my Maseto Avatar 30mm knot brush, and it wasn't happening, I had to finish off doing a face lather I failed so bad.

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As you can see, it just wasn't happening! The brush is just so huge, its impossible to have room in order to work the bubbles out. I also tried using my scuttle with my smaller 24mm APSHAVECO Lagoon brush, and the knot size is still too big! So thats when I decided to get my Omega 636 ST Badger brush with its 21mm knot.

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This brush is small enough at least, and allows me to make a lather in my scuttle. So I would say the brush size limit for scuttles, should be around 21mm. Having said that however, if you have an even smaller brush, say one of those 18mm little Wee Scotts I hear about, that would be even better!

After I lather up for each pass, I set the brush back down in the lather area, as pictured above. This allows the scuttle to keep the brush warm as well. After completing a pass, when I go to pickup my brush again, its really warm, and it feels so nice as I apply the lather to my face, its like a warm facial massage, nothing better!

By using hot kettle water, I find, that it keeps my lather nice and warm for up to an hour worth of shaving time. It really helps that these scuttles are made of ceramic, as ceramic is an excellent material, to transfer heat. In my experience, I also discovered, that its a good idea to put a towel down on the counter surface, and to place the scuttle down on the towel. If you don't, you will have an extra bit of mess to clean up on the counter, trust me, been there, done that lol.

Then when I am done with the scuttle, I just pour out the water from the water chamber, and rinse out the lather spot in the sink, turn it upside to dry on a towel, simple. I love warm lather! 😍
Neat accessory, and the only question not answered? Price?
 

Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker

Likes a fat handle in his hand
Neat accessory, and the only question not answered? Price?

Apologies, for discussing prices on B&B is generally discouraged by the mod department. Although, I am only human, and sometimes I slip up in that regard and say the prices oops lol. If you go to the Captains Choice website, you can find the price there. But generally 60+ buckaroo's is the range you will find it.
 
I wasn't alive in the late 1800's/early 1900's, but I'm assuming you needed to heat water in a tea kettle on the wood stove and had a wash basin instead of a sink. Being they didn't have hot tap water on demand, I think building hot lather as needed was the most practical option.

I have a traditional scuttle that belonged to my grandfather - it has chip in the ceramic but still in working order. I have always planned to use it with a puck of Haslinger, which should be roughly the right size, although I never got around to it so far.

From what I know, your point about it being a repository for warm water is the key to it. My understanding is that hot water lived in the bottom part, where the brush could be soaked. A puck of soap lived on the top. You build lather on the puck with a warm brush, and any excess just drips back down to be recycled. You lather up, replace the brush in the bottom to keep warm. You can thus keep all your soapy water in one place and manage a nice, warm lather shave from only a relatively small amount of hot water.

At least, that is how I was told to use it when it was given to me!
 

luvmysuper

My elbows leak
Staff member
Cyril R Salter makes and sells these scuttles currently. If you buy one, it is provided along with a 70 gram puck of their shaving soap.
The soap puck fits in the top of the scuttle like it was made to do it, because it was.
It fits like a glove. I know, I have one.
 
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