
In the late 1800’s barbershops became increasingly popular due to the style of short hair in favor during the World War I era. This short hair was an attempt to limit the amount of germs carried from one soldier to another. In an attempt to provide customers with a clean experience, barbers began to use personal shaving mugs. There was a fungus that erupted in the late 1870s, known as the “barber’s itch” which opened the door for individual shaving mugs in order to stop the spread of the fungus.1 Unfortunately, the mugs did not prevent the fungus because the fungus itself spread from the razor and not the mug.


1 Estep, Keith E. The Shaving Mug & Barber Bottle Book, with Value Guide. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub., 1995 (pg 6)
2 Estep, Keith E. The Shaving Mug & Barber Bottle Book, with Value Guide. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub., 1995 (pg 16)
3 Ware, W. Porter. Price List of Occupational and Society Emblems Shaving Mugs. Chicago: Lightner Pub., 1949 (pg 70)
4 Ware, W. Porter. Price List of Occupational and Society Emblems Shaving Mugs. Chicago: Lightner Pub., 1949 (pg 72)
By Carolyn Fitzgerald,
Chudnow Museum Associate