World's Greatest

This week's mug is a Retail Purchase.  It is a full wrap around design of a cityscape drawing with a billboard appearing on the left hand side of the mug.  The billboard has the bright red letters "World's Greatest" above a red area presumably being painted by the worker in the lower right.

When hot liquid is added to the mug, the word LOVER appears in the Red Area.  The color change is good, though not complete, but still a great addition to the collection.

DESIGN:  Full, 1+ Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Retail Purchase

Prudential Westlake

This week's mug is from Westlake Pioneer back in 1982.  On the left side of the mug is a large blue area with the Prudential Logo in the upper center.  (I note that the ink on the mug is blue, and yet somehow the lights I took the pic with made it more purple.  Go figure...)  Beneath the blue area is the name Westlake Pioneer 1982.  

When hot liquid is added to the mug the entire blue area clears to reveal a drawing of a countryside with trees and clouds. 

I am unsure of the history of this mug and can find no connection to "Westlake Pioneer" and Prudential, so I can only guess that it is a merger announcement or an Office's Promotion.  Either way, the color change is good, and the mug is in great condition.

DESIGN:  1 Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color

TYPE: Promotional

Nashville Employee Suggestion Program

This week's mug comes from Nashville (where I live) and is from the city government.  On the left side of the mug is the phrase "GOT AN IDEA?" above a light bulb.  Below the light bulb is the name of the program:

Metro Nashville Government

Employee Suggestion Program. 

When hot liquid is added, the bulb clears to reveal the letters "ESP" for Employee Suggestion Program. The program is part of the city code.  From the city code: "There is established an employee suggestion award program for employees and retired employees of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Under this program, cash or honorary awards may be made to employees of the metropolitan government and retired employees of the metropolitan government whose adopted suggestions will result in substantial savings or improvement in operations of the metropolitan government."  (Odd, no mention of the mug.) 


DESIGN:  1 Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color

TYPE: Promotional

Atlas Copco

This week's mug comes from a local Tennessee company, Atlas Copco.  They make compressors.  The mug features the company's name and logo above a mottled design.

When hot liquid is added, the mottled design clears to reveal a stylized drawing similar to DaVinci's Vetruvian Man.*

As you can see, the mug is, most likely, microwave damaged and the color change no longer works.  The design is excellent and the mug is yet another example of 'what not to do.'


DESIGN:  1 Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Promotional

Children's Ministries

This week's mug is from the Children's Christian Ministries Association.  On the right side of the mug is the line: "A Network for encouraging & Equipping Leaders in Children's Ministries."

On the left side of the mug is a drawing of two kids playing on a set of bars.  Below the bars is a dark rectangle.

When hot liquid is added to the mug, the rectangle clears to reveal the name "Children's Christian Ministries Association."

The mug is in great condition, and the color change is great.  A good example of design flaws in that the mug uses a light blue ink which the thermochromatic ink sort of muddles, even though it is nearly clear.

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

CBS Introduces "Free Spirit"

This week's mug is from ABC Television.  On the left side of the mug is the sentence" "SOMETHING SPECIAL APPEARS THIS FALL..." Above a drawing of a television with a dark screen.  Below it is says "Sundays at 8:00 P.M. (ET) on ABC-TV."

On the right side of the mug is the logo for Columbia Pictures, A unit of Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc. 

When hot liquid is added to the mug, the screen on the TV clears to show the logo for the TV Show "Free Spirit."  This show was introduced in the Fall of 1989, so it's easy to date the mug.  In addition, the color change is pretty good, not perfect, but not ruined either.

A great find and addition to the collection

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

Hot Not

This week's mug is a retail purchase I made just this last week. In a local store I spotted this one on the clearance rack and snapped it up!  On the right side of the mug is the word "NOT" in big bold black print. 

When hot liquid is added to the mug, the word changes to show the word "HOT."  A very clever utilitarian use of the Thermochromatic Ink. As you can see, the color change is total!  No remnants of the original design linger.  One of the best I've seen!

Not only is this mug brand spanking new, but it also comes with it's own full color retail box!

DESIGN:  1 Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Retail