Support your local potter

[TxPhoto09]

This thread is not about scuttles per se, but about a way of thinking.

I'd been reading about scuttles made by this person and that person, and had just about decided to order one, when I thought, "Wait a minute -- I have a very good potter right at hand."

I went down to my friend Ken's place and described what I was after. He had a model already done, designed (ready for this?) to keep dip cool. You put iced water in the bottom, just as you'd put hot water in a scuttle, and you put your dip in the top just as you'd put your brush and lather.

Well, Ken and I kicked around what my needs were, and he adapted his "dip chiller" to my scuttle description. I picked up my custom scuttle last week and it works like a champ. The original didn't have the ridges in the top bowl nor the handle, but when I described it to Ken, he understood immediately what I meant. My only regret at this point is that I didn't ask him to personalize it with initials or something similar.

Oh, yes, one other regret. I got to choose a color, and I didn't quite capture the rich blue of the actual pottery in this photo. Sorry, Ken.

At his prices (around one-third of the nationally-known scuttles) I might to back and get another one that's personalized.

The point is not that this is a great scuttle, but that you can often get things just as good as the "national brands" if you scout around locally a bit -- plus, you help support local merchants.

Anybody wants Ken's address, I'll be happy to supply it. He's in Port Aransas, Texas.

 

[fidjit]

Agree entirely. Shipping a scuttle from overseas was gonna cost a bomb because of international postage. So since Tasmania's known for it's arts and crafts found a local potter and worked with him to produce brush scuttles.

Hopefully to the benefit of all Aussie wetshavers

 

[Sir Ronald]

support your local potter indeed!

well I'm not from Tasmania, rather the neighbour state of Victoria. but I bought my scuttle from the same place as Ian ^^^

I had a choice of two - I picked the blue one but thought to myself 'if only it was a bit darker blue'. much to my delight - when it turned up it was a lot darker than the photo. I love the colour! there's a really good feeling when you're buying a hand made product that is supporting a local small business. makes it that more valuable for both parties involved. I'll say it again - support your local potter! (fatboy look familiar Ian?)

 

[JPDyson]

On the one hand, I'm right there with you in theory - but I have a different experience in practice.

My wife is from Asheboro, NC - you could just about throw a rock at hit Seagrove, which is a major pottery hub in this area. It's almost an embarrassment of riches. I very much wanted to check out some potters in the area and see what they would be willing to do in terms of making a scuttle for me - it gave me the warm fuzzies to "live local" and perhaps even save some money on a custom piece.

A couple of them looked at me like I had a third eye. Those who were up to speed quoted as much as what Julie wanted for her reputable Dirty Bird wares. I didn't think it was worth the risk - I wanted to spend the money once.

After about the fifth potter, I gave up. Now, there are undoubtedly hundreds near here, so I might try again one day - but the tried and true Dirty Birds are still good for that rewarding sense of supporting "the little guy" that I didn't feel toward, say, a Georgetown.

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

Nice scuttles! I also had one made by a (almost) local potter. I say 'almost' because he lives a couple hours away. I had seen his work before and when I started looking for a scuttle, I thought the easily attainable ones looked nice enough, but they just weren't for me. So, I got in touch with the potter and asked him if he would consider making one for me. He agreed. It is probably one of the best shaving related purchases that I've made. Since getting the scuttle, I've had to shave a few times without it (e.g. while traveling) and it was not pleasant. Warm lather is such a treat in the morning. Anyways, some photos of it are below. For size reference, there is a Super Speed in the photo along with a Simpson's Case on the left and a Simpson's Emperor 2 on the right.

 

[Triumph Coupe]

I could not agree more.

I was after a shaving bowl that floated to keep my lather warm. My local potter made a lovely bowl fitted to my brush, handle low down so I could hold it with my thumb through the handle and to my colour choice. Could not have asked for any more!

No need to pay postage or anything because he was local. And I'd rather support the local economy.

 

[AndrewGWU]

I had emailed a local potter who I have purchased things from in the past some pics of scuttles for her to make me one, but she declined since she had never done one before. I wish I knew of someone else locally who would do one for me.

 

[FL shaver]

A couple of months ago I was at an artisans festival in Venice, FL. I walked past a potter's tent (from NC) and thought about scuttles. I walked in and began scanning his shelves. The pottery was beautiful and any of the bowls would have served well for lathering, but I couldn't see spending that amount for something no more effective than the cheap plain white cereal bowls I already had in the kitchen. I asked if he ever made a scuttle. He didn't know what one is. He offered to sell me two bowls, one larger than the other, to accomplish the same thing. I passed. Hopefully I can find one locally...

 

[TxPhoto09]

I note that the scuttle photos posted seem to all show one-piece scuttles. After some discussion, Ken and I decided to make mine two pieces -- first, because I thought it would be more flexible that way from a lathering standpoint; second, because as he pointed out, we're in a humid subtropical climate and it would be a lot easier to clean.

Granted, I can't whip up lather one-handed. But then, I don't think I ever tried to do that anyway.