Old silver mugs

One thing about this wetshaving obsession hobby that I really like is the ability to reach back in time a bit and pick up items that are still as functional today as when they were made decades and decades ago.

This week I was really happy to receive these two silver plated shaving mugs.

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Another view:

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The one on the left was made by Pairpoint Manufacturing company and the one on the right by Eureka Silver Co.

I was really only after the Pairpoint one on the left but since they came as a pair for $20 I decided to go ahead and buy them.

The seller mentioned that they were from the 1800's so I decided to do a little bit of digging to see what I could find out.

The Pairpoint Manufacturing Co. One
Pairpoint Manufacturing company has a fairly long and interesting history.
It started in 1880 in New Bedford, MA, and grew quickly employing some of the best designers in the US.

A quote:
"Pairpoint Manufacturing Company started in 1880 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. William L. Libbey established Pairpoint Manufacturing Company in New Bedford to make silver-plated metal mounts for Mt. Washington. It soon joined with the glassworks nearby and made glass, silver-plated pieces, and lamps. Reverse-painted glass shades and molded shades known as "puffies" were part of the production until the 1930s. The company reorganized and changed its name several times but is still working today."


It had branch offices in both Chicago and in San Francisco.
The company manufactured a great variety of household items.
Here are some pages from their catalogs:

1893:



1895:


1897:



AND...I think I lucked out as far as dating this mug goes...because I happened to spot this one:

...from 1902.

The bottom of mine reads:


So, maybe not quite 1800's but very close.... 113 years old is still pretty old

There's no real shortage on old Pairpoint products and it appears that they can often be picked up rather inexpensively.

I actually think it looks rather neat with my Rubberset 400:


The Eureka Silver Co. one
Surprisingly difficult to find some good information about this company.
There are some later companies with the same name from Missouri and Arkansas but it appears that the 'original' one back in the very early 1900's was located in Meriden, Connecticut - which seemed to have been quite the hotspot for silver and silver plate manufacturing in those days.

Looking more into it it seems like there was a holding/umbrella company named "Meriden Silver Plate Co.".
That company was founded in 1869 and later started the International Silver Co in 1898.
It seems like the company was active up until the 1930's and manufactured products with these stamps;
- The Meriden Silver Plate Co,
- The Meriden S.P. Co,
- International S. Co, and...............
- Eureka Silver Co.

Bottom of my mug:


Side:


It's possible that it might shine up a bit.


Anyway, that's that.

They won't be just sitting pretty on a shelf as I intend to put them back to work

 

I really like that you're expanding into other aspects of the shave. And Cookie you have fabulous taste!

 

Great find. Nice looking mugs.

 

Your finds, though they no longer surprise me, always intrigue Dzia Dzia with their beauty and uniqueness. You sir, are a master. Very beautiful mugs.

 

That Eureka mug is fantastic. Great find!

 

I do like the elephant trunk handle on it

 

Cleaned up the Pairpoint mug - and it was my mug for this morning's shave.
I think it looks pretty good.

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These mugs are amazing! Thanks for the information on the company also. Your right, your brush looks great on that mug. Happy Shaving.
I also think it is good that you are expanding on your obsession, hobby.
I'm in the same boat.

 

I've added a couple of vintage/antique silver plated mugs since this post such as this one;



But,the very latest one came in this week - and is a rather quirky and neat one.
It has a patent date of 1910 and is in surprisingly good condition:

When viewed from the side:


Viewed from the top:


When opening it up the inside of the mug-lid becomes a mirror that can be positioned in two ways. Like this:
(I like the brush rest on the side of it)


...and like this:


I really like it

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Very nice! I've seen a few square/rectangular one around but haven't sprung for them yet. I really like the round one of yours. One of these days....

 

Fine looking shave mugs or cups, a noteworthy American made find. Great background work too. Thanks for sharing a real treat to see these and in fine shape.

 

OMG that first one is amazeballs!

 

That is one intriguing mug! Beautiful floral design. I do like mugs and have yet to pic up a silver plate. EPay is ridiculous for them.

Such a tiny mirror compared to what we use today. Have you succeeded in shaving using that mirror?

 

Not yet - it literally arrived yesterday
It needs a good cleaning first but the intent is to try and use it as it was originally intended.

 

Those are AWESOME!!! Just out of curiosity, were they found on E. Bay?

 

yeah all of them are from the bay.
The first two ones in the very first post were $20 for the pair, the third one (first one in post #9) was $30 I think and this last one with the mirror was $35 I think.

 

The mirror one is really cool. I like how some have a place for the brush. You're searching "shaving mug" I assume?

 

I just noticed that sunflower design on the top - drool! In those days I guess men were not ashamed, even preferred, what we consider feminine flowers and curlicues and arabesques.

These days the designs for men are all stark, minimalist, and angular. If modern men's implements were buildings they would be classified as "brutal architecture".

 

HUH? Fantastic. I must be hanging with the wrong crowd on eBay.

 

Most of these are about a hundred years old and all the big manufacturers back then appears to have been silver plating their products and were very clear about including that fact on their products (stamped on the bottom). I think I find most by just searching for "silver plated mug" to be honest