So my apologies if I can't seem to locate the appropriate place to list scuttle questions, but here's mine...I've seen scuttles in antique stores that seem to have a 1/2 circle with a few drain holes at the top, the opposite side is open down to the bottom of the mug and looks like you could soak your brush. My question is what kind of soap do you put in the top of these things? The only soaps i can ever seem to find are VDH pucks. Anyone have one of these? Please comment how it's used. Another question, why do they always seem to be girly flower patterns on the side? Final question, I see them anywhere from $4 to $35...What's fair, what do you look for if there's really a justifiable wide price range like that. THANKS in advance for your comments, I hope I was clear in my description.
This is what was explained to me on them. A shaving scuttle is a shaving tool developed in late 19th century. As hot water was not common in many households, one way to provide hot lather was to use a scuttle. It resembles a teapotwith a very wide spout where hot water is poured in, and the unit is brought to the bathroom. At the top of the scuttle is a soap holder, which unlike a shaving mug, has drain holes at the bottom.In use, the shaving brush is dunked into the wide spout, allowing it to soak into the water and heat up. The soap is placed in the soap holder. When needed, one can take the brush and brush it against the soap, bringing up a layer of lather; excess water is drained back. This allows conservation of water and soap, while also retaining enough heat to ensure a comfortable, long shave. As far as the flowery design that was just the style of the time.
My first scuttle was that type, I didn't like it and it ended up in Brazil. Since then I've tried other options like a VDH lather bowl sitting on top of the bottom half of a dip chiller, a sauce/gravy warmer and the latest is a modified self watering African Violet pot. The sauce/gravy warmer worked fine with smaller brush, the African Violet pot works fine with bigger brush but am not totally satisfied so I ordered and am currently waiting on a Robert Becker scuttle ($35 shipped new) to arrive.
After seeing a lot of people talk about the dirty bird scuttles I went and looked at their site. Now I want one either the travel size or the regular sized scuttle.
I'll answer point by point from my own experience. I have seen 2 types of scuttles. 1 type has those holes where they had having soap up top in mind. I don't know much about these types. They're dribble ports. As for the application w. soap in mind, I honestly have had no use for one, and don't understand that application. I CAN speak about other types of scuttles. MINE is a 1 piece. It's a Dirty Bird, made by none other than Julie herself. My little basin that sits above the jug has NO holes. I didn't want them. The purpose of my scuttle is to keep my lather warm throughout the entire shave. I have maybe 8-10 drops of water in there, then I lather up in the mug, then tilt the mug over into the scuttle bowl & pour my lather into it. THEN I work up the lather in the scuttle & it heats up as I do it. When it's ready (no more than 30 seconds) it's nice & warm on the skin. NOW: SOME people prefer to have dribble ports (tiny holes) in that bowl so they can tilt their scuttle & let a little water seep into the lather basin. To hydrate the lather. I just put water on my hand from the faucet & just flick it in, it's no biggie. To me, those holes are more trouble than they're worth, so why bother. ~But, some people prefer it & I leave em to it. That basin where the lather goes is where I soak my brush while in the shower. That way it's not just floating around in the sink, & the handle isn't getting wet. JUST the bristles are wet. I paid $40 - $45 for mine. It was hand made, custom made, and made to my specifications. I've been using it for a few years, I love it. It was well worth the money, I use it EVERY morning. I have a place to soak my brush, I have a place to lather instead of using a stinkin' bowl, I get a warm lather 100% of the time, I don't need a separate thingy just to soak my brush...Soap Mug....scuttle.....Brush, Razor......shaddap n shave....LOL. It was a very fair price I think. It's VERY well made, it's thick, it was custom made for me based on my needs....it's a fair price in my opinion. How many presents have you gotten for yourself in the $40 range? a few movies? This one is spa treatment every morning, guaranteed. EVEN IF YOU LOSE POWER, I have gas stoves, so I can heat up water in a kettle (NOT BOILED, boiled water breaks down a lather....) and use it. I STILL had a warm lather in a bad storm!
The article below decribes use of the vintage & modern scuttle + links to several scuttle makers. Evolution of the Modern Shaving Scuttle http://www.doubleedgerazor.net/the-...o-luxury-lathermaker-for-classic-wet-shaving/ There are a few triple-milled shaving soaps (TOBS, GFT) that come in the traditional shape (hockey puck w/ rounded bottom). But that's more for nostalgia, as they would still need to be grated to fit most vintage shaving scuttles.
I bought a vintage Burleigh ware scuttle when I got my first wetshaving gear. It was something around $35. Pretty much any shaving soap that will fit works. To lather, load up the tip of the brush with soap and then face or bowl lather. My scuttle has a flat bottom where the drain holes are located. Other scuttles of the similar design might have rounded bottoms, and might require soap to fit. Truefitt & Hill sell such a soap, and there are likely others. I don't ever fill my scuttle with water and it is not necessary. Col Conk sells the scuttles and there are also many beautiful vintage scuttles available.
I second the dirty bird scuttles. I have 2 of them and love them although lately I do more face lathering than anything else.
I've been using the old spice mug with the ship on it and VDH soap for probably 10+ years now...I think it's time to treat myself and give the mug to the boy when he's ready
after an hour of research, I think the DB's are a little on the large side...maybe could live with the travel scuttle. I watched her video, pretty mesmerizing stuff. I do like the smaller Roberts items (005 and 011), but the pics don't look like you get the attention to detail you get from DB. If it were an easy decision, it'd be no fun i suppose. The search shall continue.
I have the same scuttle, same color. However mine has a pewter top on the rubber cork. Love mine. Hot shaves through my third pass easily. Well easily handles my largest brush (Simpsom Chubby 2S). Only complaint is it is somewhat of a large footprint on my bathroom counter. If it were smaller it probably would not function as well so it is a trade-off.
You can use cold water if ya like, you can use the scuttle to keep the lather as warm or icy cool as ya like~
I received a DB Scuttle in January and I love it. There may be a DB brush scuttle in my future for when I face lather.
