I Love Lucy - TV Show

One of a growing number of retail purchase mugs, this mug advertises or celebrates the TV Show "I Love Lucy." I Love Lucy was an American television show starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white comedy originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on CBS but can still be seen in syndication in many areas of the world.  

On the 1st side, you see (above) the main logo of the show, the words "I Love Lucy" in a heart shape.   Lower to the right, that smudge is really some printing.  It is some VERY small print which says "CBS Inc.  1998. All Rights Reserved.  I Love Lucy & Design are Registerd trademarks of CBS Inc. Imges of Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz are used with permission of Desilu, too LLC. Under License to Unforgettable Licensing." Below is the 2nd side, a cartoon drawing of an old type television with 50s style rabbit ears antennae.  

When hot liquid is added, the TV screen clearsto show two cartoon drawings of the main characters Lucy and Desi.  These two are from the animated title sequence from original  'I Love Lucy' released in 1951.

This mug is in terrific shape and the color change is quick and perfect!



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

Orudis - Arthritis Pain Medicine

This mug is one of those mugs which first got me interested.  It is from a pharmaceutical company advertising Orudis Pain Medication. It is a 2 sided mug, with the same design on both sides. Above you can see it says "WHEN ARTHRITIS FLARES...WHEN THE SPRAIN'S A PAIN" above a picture of a knee and ORUDIS with the generic name below it "ketoprofen."  There is a rectangle above the name, and there is also a star burst pattern on the knee.  This is an old mug and the color change has been affected by microwave or uv damage.  I expect that the thermographic ink would have been a bright red or pink indicating the pain on the knee. 

When hot liquid is added, the rectangle clears to show "PUTS OUT THE FIRE FAST" and the star burst pattern also clears to show a normal knee (no pain.)

This is no doubt a free mug, given to doctors' offices by reps advertising the pain medicine.

DESIGN:  2 Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Advertising, Freebie

BRIM Coffee

This is a very simple, and from what I can tell, very old magic mug.  It is from a coffee company named BRIM. Brim was made by General Foods from 1961 to 1995.  I put this mug at somewhere around the 1990s.  It shows the words FILL IT TO THE RIM"  above a stylized coffee cup.

When hot liquid is added, the coffee cup clears to show the words WITH BRIM, using the BRIM logo.  The phrase "Fill it to the rim, with BRIM" was the advertising catch phrase for the coffee company for most of it's 34 year run.

This is a great mug, very old and one of my favorites.

DESIGN:  1 Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE:  Advertising, Freebie

Tempra Children's Fever Reducer

There are very few parents out there that don't know about Tempra.  Tempra is one of the most well known brands of over the counter acetaminophen for children.  Not just a pain reliever, Tempra is known for its ability to lower a fever. This mug advertises that feature.  

On the main side is the name Tempra with the heading, "WHEN CHILDREN'S TEMPERATURES RISE" and the subheading "Acetaminophen." It also shows a group of rectangles stepping higher and higher. On the reverse of the design is a large blue square.  Below  you can see that the design is 2 sided, but actually wraps around the entire mug.  

When hot liquid is added the large blue square clears to show the rectangles stepping down, representing how the fever is brought down by Tempra.  It also reiterates this in the phrase "HELPS RETURN THEM TO NORMAL."

DESIGN:  1+ Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Advertising (Corporate Freebie)

Carnation Hot Chocolate Canada

This is one of the two mugs which sparked my interest and collection of heat sensitive mugs.  Though the striped design runs completely around the mug, I consider it only a 1 plus design. The pic above shows the non-changing part of the design,which shows the name "Carnation" and the phrase "Melange a Chocolat Chaud" (loosely translated "mixing a hot chocolate.") 

The opposite side of the mug has a similar design with the deletion of the phrase and addition of a chocolate colored spot.  

When heated, the chocolate colored spot clears to show the phrase "Canada's #1 warm-up" in both English and French.  

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

Dilbert and Casual Day

This is a wonderful and whimsical magic mug with the ever lovable Dilbert on it.  It says "CASUAL  DAY and has Dilbert in all his white shirted, curvey tie glory.  This is a one plus sided mug, as the main side, above has no color changing properties.  

On the reverse, is a large dark rectangle of thermochromatic ink.  When heated, the large rectangle clears and shows Dilbert again, this time dressed for Casual Day - although a bit over done.  

Dressed in his robe, pajamas (let's hope!) and bunny slippers, Dilbert takes Casual Day too far.  Above him, completing the phrase Casual Day (from the front) "has gone too far!"

Great color change, and good sized mug, too.  One of my personal favorites.  

DESIGN:  1 Plus Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Retail Purchase

Quik Mart - Superstar

This mug comes from a chain of stores called "Quick Mart."  The mug shows a bunch of stars along with the Quick Mart Logo and to the lower right is a large star (original color is unknown, it is now a dull brown.) 

When heated the large star clears (somewhat) to show the moniker "SUPERSTAR."  

We can guestimate that this had to do with some special program named "SUPERSTAR" and that the mug was either a reward or part of the program itself.  I have been unable to locate any history on this mug as the Quick Mart Chain has either gone under or been merged with some other company.  There are 'Quick Mart' stores in Tucson (but they are unrelated) and there are many Kwik Mart stores (also unrelated.)  

DESIGN:  1 Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE:  Corporate Freebie
ON THE BOTTOM: Nothing