Operation Desert Storm

Being Memorial Day, I thought it fitting that I post a mug having to do with the Military.  This full 3 sided mug was created for soldiers stationed in the middle east during Operation Desert Storm.  On the main side of the mug are the words "OPERATION DESERT STORM."

On the opposite side of the mug is a drawing of an American Eagle in attack position.  He looks a bit angry, too.  

On the side of the mug opposite the handle, is a map of the middle east including Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.  In the center of the map is a caricature of Saddam Hussein standing on a very small tank. 

When hot liquid is added, the figure of Saddam Hussein fades from the map.  The color change is good though not complete. I'm unsure if the mug was sold to soldiers, sold in retail stores stateside, or given as a freebie of sorts. Regardless, this is a great mug (and perfect for Memorial Day!) 

DESIGN:  Full, 3+ Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: History Unknown

GARDNER-DENVER

It's been awhile since I featured a two sided mug - and by that I mean thermochromic on two sides.  This mug comes from Gardner-Denver, a company which makes professional manufacturing tools and accessories.  Above is one side of the mug, showing a large square with white letters "GARDNER-DENVER."

On the opposite side is a dark circle with the names of its subsidiaries beside it. These are Dotco^©, Apex & Utica^®, Doler^TM, Buckeye^®, DGD/Gardner-Denver, Gardner-Denver^®,Assembly Sysems^TM, Master Power^® & Stuhr.

When hot liquid is added, the square clears to show "The Color of Performance  PULSE 2000" and the circle clears to show the name Cooper Power Tools.

It is unclear as to what this mug represents, perhaps the merger of yet another company with the Gardner-Denver conglomerate.  Pulse 2000 I am told was a power tool convention and show held in the year 2000 so it makes sense that this mug may have been a corporate freebie at that show.  

The colors are dark, quite opaque and the color change is near complete and swift.  A great mug.  

DESIGN:  2 Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Retail

America Salutes the Lady

From 1984 til 1986 the Statue of Liberty located on liberty island in New York Harbor was put through a complete restoration. This mug was part of its unveiling in 1986 when the scaffolding was taken down. On the main side of the mug is the upper part of the statue surrounded by a dark scaffold. The words 'America Salutes the Lady" appear at the top, with red and blue stripes (creating by effect, a red, white and blue stripe)bracket the words.

A unique design, with the Red and blue stripes running completely around the mug.

When hot liquid is added, the scaffold turns clear, showing the Great Lady, unencumbered by scaffolding, in all her refurbished glory. A great mug with a great historic design.

DESIGN: 1+ Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Retail

RCA - The New Breed

This week's mug is from RCA Recording and features "THE NEW BREED."  As far as my research can find, the New Breed was an advertising campaign of RCA's in the 1980's used to introduce a new group of artists all signed to RCA at about the same time.  Most were Country Artists and hence the design of the standard spotted cow, as seen above.  Below the cow is the line: "The greatest Music Herd"

On the side opposite the handle is the RCA lightening logo in purple.  

On the other side is what appears to be the same cow design only the cow is a solid black silhouette.

When hot liquid is added to the mug, the silhouette cow turns clear to show the name of a performer, in this case Jo-El Sonnier, who was signed to RCA in the late 80's.  

The color change is very good and the mug is in great shape.

DESIGN:  1++ Sided, color change is on only one side.
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Corporate freebie.