Don't make them like they used to.

Recently I was in a thrift store seeing if I could find anything in the wild, shave wise. I always check out the coffee cups and mugs for anything that would make a unique shave mug. I didn’t see anything shave worthy but I came across a “Fire King Oven Wear” coffee mug. This is a brand of commercial and residential dishware made by Anchor Hocking many, many, moons ago. Back then it seemed every diner, café, or restaurant used the Fire King brand. As I remember, the “Jadite” line was very popular. It was a translucent green. Anyway they were quality pieces, not like a lot of the stuff for sale today. The cup I saw was a translucent ivory swirl like we had at our house when I was a little guy so I snagged it. It’s light enough to be used as a tea cup but still not too delicate for coffee. It’s now my official coffee cup that I use every day. Its like going back in time every time I use it.

I have the Anchor Hocking off white coffeecup with the notched D handle and a seashell pattern candy dish that serve as toothpaste rinse and handsoap holder. You can find lots of AH on EBAY at sometimes ridiculous prices. One note: the cups don't get along with microwaves and will expand around the base seam and leak until cool.

Thanks Kav!

Do you have a picture? It'd be interesting to see the cup.

Do you have a picture?  It'd be interesting to see the cup.

+1

Photo shamelessly swiped from an EBAY auction. The classic D handle FIREKING coffeecup in jade. Mine is offwhite. I love this stuff. It's 1950 America, bad American coffee served by a world weary bleach blond waitress named Blanch or a Lutheran church casserole at the fundraiser.

Intact, no chips, pretty cool - think of the gallons of coffee that have gone in to and out of that cup to get countless people going ready for work or filled with strong and black after a late night of over-indulging.

Visitors see my vintage English and japanese tea services, small Lalique collection and my mother's extensive array of china and then use the bathroom and walk out looking very puzzled.