My Heirloom Shaving Mug

[dougmac]

My father is the current holder of the mug, but when I started on my path of traditional wetshaving, he passed it on to me. Anyone know anything about these old mugs? I'll be seeing him (and the mug!) tomorrow, and will see if there are any markings on the bottom or anything. Legend has it that its my Great Great Grandfather's, and it's funny to note that my last name is spelled on it with "Mc" instead of "Mac"

 

[lowjax]

Haven't seen them before, but it look very sweet. Love it!

 

[jkingrph]

That's an interesting mug. What is the machine? It sort of looks like a brake for bending metal. I picked up a couple, non personalized off e bay a couple of years ago, one for a pharmacist, for myself and one for a lawyer for my son in the exact same shape. I have seen those that are reproductions go fairly cheap and ones listed as original listed at very high prices. That one being a family heirlome, I would keep.

 

[dougmac]

Thanks Jeffs!

There is some debate over what the machine is, but my Dad thinks it may be a machine for processing leather. I'll take some good up-close pictures of it tomorrow and see what I can find out about it. I'm certainly planning on keeping it... until I can pass it on to one of my own, that is!

 

[Derdonkderd]

It does look like a break, but they don't have a lot of wheels. It also kind of looks like some manner of lathe... But, my best guess is a power spinning loom:

 

[Isaac]

THose were profession mugs. Often times, soap mugs had imprints of the profession of the owner on them. Masonic signs, fire trucks, and other various emblems would be put on the mug along with the owner's initials. A nice little fact for you all. At the Paul Mole shop in NYC, they still have a rather large collection of customer's mugs on the wall. They do not practice in using them any longer, as far as I remember, but the old mugs are there.

 

[celestino]

Great looking mug!

 

[A28]

Thats awesome!!! does look like a loom machine to me as well

 

[dpmtherrien]

I know that those go back to the days when everyone had their own mug at the barbershop. Whenever they stopped for a shave the barber would use their own mug. I have my grandfather's mug from those days, but there's an interesting story with it. He had his own, but the barber dropped it and it broke. So rather than him getting a new one the barber gave him his mug. So I have the mug, but its with a different name on it.