December 8th - 10th 2011 Premier (04)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/9/2011
The personalized shaving mugs belonging to Fred and August Duesenberg. In historical terms, these are perhaps the most important occupational shaving mugs to come to market. To understand their importance one must understand the Duesenberg brothers' contributions to automotive engineering. In their first business venture together in Iowa, Fred and August Duesenberg built racing bicycles (as witnessed by these very mugs) known for their precision craftsmanship. Bicycling as the speed sport of the 1890's gave way to another developing mode of transportation in a new century. Fred and August now took their design and fabrication skills to the expanding automotive world. In transition, Fred had won the Iowa state championship in cycling and his first auto race - attributable to his engineering talent not physical prowess. Their automotive engineering lead to a land speed record of 158mph in 1919, winning the Indy 500 three times before 1930, and building the motor which powered the only American car to win the French Grand Prix. While Ford was introducing its 1932 V8 at 65 horsepower, the Duesenbergs had already achieved 320 horsepower~!The bicycles illustrated on the mugs are racing bikes as verified by the accompanying photo, the mugs were "picked" directly from the family as witnessed by the accompanying documents, and the historical importance of these two brothers commonly known by the automotive collector is now shared with the shaving mug collecting community. A pair of occupational mugs in outstanding original condition, with serious historical significance, and with impeccable provenance.
Condition: (Near Mint).
Item Dimensions: Largest: 4" T.