Thread: Scuttlemugs... Tell me about them.

They look cool and they also look like the ultimate having mug. I can figure out that the soap goes on top. What goes in the bowl on the bottom??? Hot Water, I assume... going back 140 years. However, from the holes on the soap dish, I would assume that lather would run into the bowl to accumulate for the shaver to relather his brush.

Tell me... how does one use a Scuttle Mug?

some of the old-timers or purists may kill me, but i've found that using a tea cup and shallow saucer works great (i use an ikea dinera coffee cup and saucer).

simply microwave water in the cup for 2 mins to get it nice and hot. dip your brush in it, shake off excess water, get some soap on your brush, and place the saucer on top of the cup. this allows you to have a shallow bowl in which to make your lather, and the steam from the water keeps the lather nice and warm.

the only difficulty with this method is that you can't easily get rid of the excess water in the saucer bowl, so you have practice to get it right. starting on the dry side allows you to add water as you go.

cheers,
drawkward

Originally Posted by groundrush

Tell me... how does one use a Scuttle Mug?

Hi groundrush,
Different brands of scuttles have different characteristics. My scuttle was made by Dirty Bird Pottery. I own their mid-sized 1.5 scuttle. The top bowl you use the same as any shaving bowl or mug for building lather. You fill the reservoir that surrounds the bowl with hot tap water to keep your lather warm for all three (or more) passes of your shaving.

Different brands of scuttles have different characteristics. Georgetown scuttles have a cork to seal their reservoir in an effort to hold the heat in. Dirty Bird Pottery scuttles have a mid size spout to allow easy draining and filling of the reservoir with hot water so you can easily add more hot water after your second pass to keep your lather warm (in the Winter). Some shaving scuttles have very large spouts so you can insert your brush there to pre-soak it before building your lather. You can see this type of scuttle and its use here. It isn't used for that purpose in that video, but that is the purpose for the large spout.

Another difference between scuttles is the size of the lather bowl. Georgetown scuttles are close to the size of a shaving brush. It is intended that you build your lather in a separate bowl and then place your lather filled brush in the GT scuttle between lathering for your shaving passes to keep the lather warm. DB scuttles are intended to build the lather and keep the lather/brush warm in the same scuttle bowl.

The scuttles I mention above do not have holes in the soap bowls. The ones with holes in the soap bowl are possibly vintage scuttles intended to just keep the puck of soap warm while building the lather in a separate bowl.

Shaving scuttles were originally developed in the late 1800s when most homes did not have hot running water in the bathroom. The man of the house would visit the kitchen to fill the reservoir of his scuttle with hot water from the tea kettle. That would enable him to have a warm lather shave.

Hope this helps.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

They don't need to be expensive

I assume your talking about the old scuttles with the holes on top. They are totally different from the newer ones. Yes on the old ones you put the soap on top and fill the bottom with hot water and the brush goes in the hole on the side. Supposedly the reservoir will keep the soap warm and wet and the brush warm and wet.

If 30 is an old timer withba shave scuttle..so be it!..it's the easiest way to keep lather warm which keeps it from drying out..just another great investment to pass onto my boys!
Here's a post that talk bout em Shaving scuttles vs. mugs - The Fedora Lounge
Pcdad

I believe the OP is talking about one of these. I have never quite understood how they are used either though.

Originally Posted by gandrw

I believe the OP is talking about one of these. I have never quite understood how they are used either though.

Gandrw,
This type of scuttle was developed in the late 1800s -- before most homes had hot water in the bathroom. You would stop by the kitchen before your shave and draw hot water from the teakettle. You would insert your shaving brush into the oversize spout to soak in the hot water. Your puck of soap would sit in the top cup. You would load the soap into your brush and build your lather either in your hand or on your face. The holes in the top cup allowed water to drain away from your puck so it would dry out and last a good long time.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

The pic above is a soap scuttle from many years ago..the NEW ones will hold soaps or creams in the middle bowl..deep like a shave bowl.. Follower by hot water filled in the spout
www.srd.com has the black I bought months ago and I love it!..finding otherways to effectively keep lather moist and warm has probably been a challenge for many people..I highly suggest one and it's not priced high either (relative) to how much sellers sell theirs for though

Pcdad

Originally Posted by markevens

They don't need to be expensive

items - Get great deals on Miniature AfricanViolet Pots, Wildlife Bisque items on eBay Stores!

Has anyone tried one of these? That fudge marble looks like it would be a good one.