In the mid 70s, the J.B. Williams Co. offered a sales promotion with the purchase of Williams shaving soap pucks. You have probably seen the boxes with the red arrow on them, noting a ‘special offer’ inside. The wrapper inside those boxes would show a printed ‘coupon’ that offered a $3.00 savings on a ‘Bicentennial Mug” – this is the mug in question.
Apparently, JB Williams contracted the Wiltion Products company, known for making cast metal goods since 1892, to produce their Bicentennial mug. These shaving mugs were hand-crafted from Armetale, using a sand-molding method. Armetale, means ‘art metal’; it is an aluminum alloy.
This set is complete, as shipped and delivered to the customer in November 1976. While the mugs are seen occasionally on auction sites, it is incredibly rare to find an unused mug with its original shipping box, inner wrapping and company brochure all together like this.
