Variations of the 1931 Orphan Annie Ovaltine shake-up mug

[Larry Zdeb]

Two different variations of the 1931 Orphan Annie Ovaltine shake-up mug exist. Both versions have the same decal and off-white plastic cup. The bottoms and tops are different!

The first version was issued in 1931 and has "Bettleware, Manufactured Exclusively for the Wander Company, Chicago, Makes Of Ovaltine" on the bottom. The orange top has low relief lettering.

The later version of this same cup has "Bettleware (in larger lettering) Corp, (company emblem), New York, Made in U.S.A." on the bottom. The orange top has high relief lettering!

[Larry Zdeb]

I am not a real expert on Orphan Annie shake-up mugs but it appears to me that the Wander Company made several variations of each mug.

For instance, they might use blue cups (with identical printing on the underside) with a decal of Orphan Annie and Sandy dancing with cereal ingredients. When they ran out of those decals they would put on a decal of Annie Jumping rope. The same thing with the tops, an orange top might be used until it ran out then a red top was substituted!

I know this because I own the two different blue shake-up mugs mentioned.

There may be many more variations than anyone ever suspected!