British white mug question

• Sep 25, 2010

• #1

p51

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I got two reproduction white British military enamel-coated metal mugs and got to wondering if they were ever marked on the sides with any special markings? I’m no expert on Brit stuff and got these only because there wasn’t a US equivalent and I wanted something I could drink from at events that looked correct for the time period with my War Correspondent displays.

 

• Sep 25, 2010

• #2

Smithy

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Some of the RAF china mugs have "RAF" in blue on the sides. Though most from what I have seen are unmarked apart from on the bottom.

Someone else (Mr Johnson?) might be able to be more specific.

 

• Sep 25, 2010

• #3

Sgt Brown

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I think you are going to find those Brit metal mugs are one of those items that have remained unchanged (and mainly unmarked) from colonial times right up to today. The same mug will work for your Men of Harlech Zulu impression as your WWI trench impression, as your LRDG impression, as your...

Tom

 

• Sep 25, 2010

• #4

PADDY

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Enamel Brit Tin Mug

I picked this one up a few weeks ago. Enamelled with the little WWII phrasing on the side. Maybe too gimmicky for what you want, but 'I' like it and will use it camping as it can be thrown around.

 

• Sep 25, 2010

• #5

Smithy

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PADDY said:

I picked this one up a few weeks ago. Enamelled with the little WWII phrasing on the side. Maybe too gimmicky for what you want, but 'I' like it and will use it camping as it can be thrown around.

Click to expand...

Perfect for a steaming mug of NAAFI tea Paddy

Currant bun with that old boy?

 

• Sep 25, 2010

• #6

Creeping Past

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The correct markings are as follows: multiple chips and dings (exterior) and tea staining/patina (interior).

 

• Sep 25, 2010

• #7

PADDY

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STICK TO TOPIC - Please.

fftopic: Tea Mugs (British Tin variety) - not a 'tea' thread (by all means start a new thread).

 

• Sep 25, 2010

• #8

p51

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I guess I should have been more specific. :eusa_doh:
I was looking for good references for any specific markings they put on these mugs in WW2 for pretty much any branch, but I'd like to have one marked RAF or Red Cross. I recall seeing a photo once of a Red Cross donut truck and the mugs had some kind of markings, but for the life of me I can't recall what they looked like or where I saw said photo...

 

• Sep 25, 2010

• #9

Aristaeus

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p51 said:

I got two reproduction white British military enamel-coated metal mugs and got to wondering if they were ever marked on the sides with any special markings? I’m no expert on Brit stuff and got these only because there wasn’t a US equivalent and I wanted something I could drink from at events that looked correct for the time period with my War Correspondent displays.

Click to expand...

What type of war correspondent displays? Are you in uniform, in the field?

 

• Sep 25, 2010

• #10

Baggers

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In the years I've been familiar with the subject, I've never seen any with markings beyond a maker's mark, year of manufacture, and a broad arrow on the bottoms of some post war brown mugs I own.

Whatever you do, don't run them through the dishwasher. Hand wash them only. The enamel doesn't handle it well at all.

Any dents and chips should be come by honestly.

Cheers!

 

• Sep 26, 2010

• #11

p51

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Baggers said:

In the years I've been familiar with the subject, I've never seen any with markings beyond a maker's mark, year of manufacture, and a broad arrow on the bottoms of some post war brown mugs I own.
Whatever you do, don't run them through the dishwasher. Hand wash them only. The enamel doesn't handle it well at all.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I had them n the dishwasher but hadn't run them yet, just yanked them out and warned my wife not to run them either.

Aristaeus said:

What type of war correspondent displays? Are you in uniform, in the field?

Click to expand...

Yep, check out this thread: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=36010&
My own page has some more info as well...

 

• Sep 27, 2010

• #12

Puzzicato

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Don't you burn your lips on a metal cup or are you supposed to be tougher than that?

 

• Sep 29, 2010

• #13

Spitfire

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Puzzicato said:

Don't you burn your lips on a metal cup or are you supposed to be tougher than that?

Click to expand...

Yes you do!
They get hot like h...!

I remember beck when I was a boyscout, we had a trip to UK and camped out in Yorkshire somewhere together with our English "friendtroop" from Nottingham.
All the smart English boyscouts had these white (ex-army) metal cups and we really wanted some too.
So when we came to London afterwards, we all went to the boyscouts shop and bought one - the larger the better!
And we all burned our lips after that - every time!
But we were cool!

 

• Sep 29, 2010

• #14

H.Johnson

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I can add little.

'Tin' mugs enamelled white were popular in Britain as both military and civilian items well before WW2. The civilian ones were used in industrial canteens and by campers (and even in some households). They go along with a 'tea can' - an enamelled metal jug with a lid and wire handle, often seen in photographs of steam locomotive crews.

The military ones used in WW1 and before are a different shape and size than WW2 (they are smaller) but you wouldn't notice that from a distance. The WW2 ones I have seen sometimes have a broad arrow mark and maker's initials, in the same way as webbing. Many don't, but maybe the marks have worn off.

Photographs of tea vans staffed by WVS have 'WVS' on the side (presumably to prevent them being 'nicked' by the customers). I've not seen 'Red Cross' mugs but I'm prepared to believe they existed.

The change to brown as a military mug almost certainly occurred because soldiers fastened the mugs to their packs for rapid deloyment in the even of e brew, making the owners rather visible. Perhaps they believed that your next cup of tea was more important than your life...

Hikers and campers in the 1960s (and possibly later) usually carried their mugs in the same way. White mugs are still produced as civilian items, often sold as 'reproduction WW2', of course...