Best Years for Vintage Old Spice Shaving Mugs
- Thread starter SalS
- Start date
I prefer the ceramic version to the milkglass version. I would only buy them with no chips, cracks or crazing.
I buy both, when they are in my price range ($1-5).
I buy both, when they are in my price range ($1-5).
Personally I like the one known as early glass mug 06 the most. It has the flared out shape that gives you more room to load from, and I think they look cleaner without the lip.
Unfortunately neither of the 2 OS mugs I have are that one
Quick edit: I actually like the look of the older hull pottery ones better, with the hand-painted look. But the straight/non-flared shape just leads to constantly banging your brush.
Unfortunately neither of the 2 OS mugs I have are that one
Quick edit: I actually like the look of the older hull pottery ones better, with the hand-painted look. But the straight/non-flared shape just leads to constantly banging your brush.
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The ones that are 2.25" high X 4.75" rim to handle. Wider and better to load without banging the sides.
I have one from 64-78.
I have one from 64-78.
I like the newest ones best. From roughly 1960 to 1992 when they left the market. That includes the dark blue slightly larger mug that was gifted as a promotional item but never sold.
Old Spice Collectables is a web site with a lot of information about Old Spice products going back to before the mugs and soaps were discontinued in 1992. I would like to recommend doing some research there. Unfortunately, the pages that go into detail about the mugs don't seem to open.
Here is the link anyway:
www.oldspicecollectibles.com
Correction needed: Follow the link for American Glass and you will find the later mugs.
Old Spice Collectables is a web site with a lot of information about Old Spice products going back to before the mugs and soaps were discontinued in 1992. I would like to recommend doing some research there. Unfortunately, the pages that go into detail about the mugs don't seem to open.
Here is the link anyway:
Oldspicecollectibles.com
www.oldspicecollectibles.com
Correction needed: Follow the link for American Glass and you will find the later mugs.
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Any vintage OS mug is well worth buying, so long as it is in good condition!! Just my $0.02!! 
I almost agree with this… with the caveat being that I refuse to buy the ones that say “shaving mug” under the logo. I cannot stand those.Any vintage OS mug is well worth buying, so long as it is in good condition!! Just my $0.02!!
The only ones I have are these two from 48/49. The left one I opened up New Old Stock sealed with the cake still in it. I haven't encountered any later ones. So these ones are glass and the later ones are ceramic?
I like em all. 
Those look like milk glass, which are newer than ceramic. This mug is ceramic:
You can see it is less perfect than the glass mugs. Note the imperfection (slight divot) in the rim, above the center mast of the ship, which was there when the mug was fired.
The latest version (short and squat) is more practical for me. I like to build my lather on the puck without all the clinking.
I do have nearly every style in a display. I can definitely say the ceramic is more fragile ... don't ask.
I do have nearly every style in a display. I can definitely say the ceramic is more fragile ... don't ask.
The ceramic ones like GPJoe’s are the absolute best. They are the very early ceramic ones. The earlier milkglass ones like CDinVT shows are the second best. The short 4’s and 6’s with the modern printing and angled sides were after those. They have their charms. The tapered walls work very well. Like Nemo says, they are the most ergonomic (less clinking)…
The really modern ones that say “shaving mug” and do not have “Grand Turk” or “Recovery” on them are the least desirable.
The indent on Joe’s is just character… and would not have stopped me from buying it for one second. You want that one. Ideally, you want it without the crazing… if you can find one.
You can also find other variations, such as different countries of origin. I have one that is made in Belgium.
I don't use mine, just display it on a shelf. I have two of the milk glass mugs in my rotation: one with the original Old Spice soap puck, and the other with a puck of Arko.
You could use it if you wanted to. It is perfectly safe to do so.
I got one in St. Clair Shores for $6, with an unused puck, at LaBelle Antiques.
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Where is LaBelle?
I spent the first 62 years of life in St Clair Shores, until we moved north in 2019.
My preference is for the ceramic mugs, which were produced from 1938 to 1947. They really have that early American feel and look to them. So, if I were to own only one classic Old Spice mug for display purposes, it would probably be the first one with the Ship Grand Turk which was made from 1938-1941.
Personally, I think that the most beautiful of all the Old Spice mugs was made back in the late sixties/early seventies by Wade Pottery. If I'm not mistaken, it was sold in a limited edition of 3000 or so. They don't come up for sale very often, but when they do, expect to pay from $250-$750+ depending on condition and how enthusiastic the other bidders may be.
I've been collecting Old Spice mugs for quite some time, so the only mugs that I now buy are those that still contain their original shaving soap and were manufactured before 1961. Prior to 1961 the soap cake was 5oz in size, but that was changed in 1961 when the puck size was reduced to 4oz.
The four mugs in the first picture are from left to right: Hull Pottery Mug #3, Early Glass Mug #1, Early Glass Mug #4, Early Glass Mug #5. In the second picture are both versions of the Hull Pottery Mug (Ship Friendship and Ship Grand Turk).
Personally, I think that the most beautiful of all the Old Spice mugs was made back in the late sixties/early seventies by Wade Pottery. If I'm not mistaken, it was sold in a limited edition of 3000 or so. They don't come up for sale very often, but when they do, expect to pay from $250-$750+ depending on condition and how enthusiastic the other bidders may be.
I've been collecting Old Spice mugs for quite some time, so the only mugs that I now buy are those that still contain their original shaving soap and were manufactured before 1961. Prior to 1961 the soap cake was 5oz in size, but that was changed in 1961 when the puck size was reduced to 4oz.
The four mugs in the first picture are from left to right: Hull Pottery Mug #3, Early Glass Mug #1, Early Glass Mug #4, Early Glass Mug #5. In the second picture are both versions of the Hull Pottery Mug (Ship Friendship and Ship Grand Turk).
On Harper. I try to go about once a month when I am in the area.
I have really enjoyed this thread. Reading about razors and brushes is great, but all of the other minutiae of shaving is interesting to me too.
I also like vintage Bakelite and ceramic blade banks, vintage Bakelite shaving soap bowls, vintage Bakelite ointment jars (for pomade)… basically, I prefer vintage aesthetics to modern aesthetics. If the vintage one works as well as the modern one, I prefer the vintage option.
I also like vintage Bakelite and ceramic blade banks, vintage Bakelite shaving soap bowls, vintage Bakelite ointment jars (for pomade)… basically, I prefer vintage aesthetics to modern aesthetics. If the vintage one works as well as the modern one, I prefer the vintage option.
Then you might also get a kick out of the Seaforth! mugs and bottles, they also made a transition from clay to glass.
Somewhat smaller but fun when a little puck like Haslinger is used. Nice handles too, with the little thumb rest.
