I have to say, I meet some interesting people online through this site, the FOHBC site and the facebook bottle and glass sites. In this case it is Chief Mike Murro. Enjoy…

Barber-shopping for me started with shining shoes with my grandfather in a little town of Ludowici, Georgia…so I have been exposed to barber bottles – hair tonics – shaving mugs since the1960’s….

Although career-wise, my occupation is a marine engineer, as sail on a ship as chief engineer with weeks marine hence the name Chief Mike…we build beaches all over the United States….

My schedule is three weeks on the ship and three weeks home. So it gives me lots of time to hunt out barbershop treasures.

My main collecting interests, are label under glass hair tonics, shaving mugs but only those for the occupation of barber and I am sure my collection is the largest in that respect. Also have a large gathering of shoeshine items such as, signs, stands, mutoscope signs etc…

As a hobby, I buy-sell-trade & restore barber chairs, barber poles, for collectors and as eye candy for car collectors. Work 2-3 shows a year at the Barrett Jackson Auction with fantasy – pinup artist Greg Hildebrandt helping him sell his art work and offer my goods at the show too.

Tonics are for the intentions! Intentions of the evenings….

Visitors in the Longwood area are always welcome to pay a visit!!! as my house is a Barbershop Museum…..

See more of Greg’s art at Spider Web Art Gallery. My items are also in one of Gregs paintings…just so you see the connection…

Pinup artist Greg Hildebrandt piece with some of Chief Mikes barber shop items used as props.

Some of Chief Mikes collection:

Chief Mike – Barber Shop Art & Collectables

Shelf of label under glass Hair Tonics.

And to think this old cup was for soap! Barbers were not the usual folks to have their own shaving mug…so good examples are desirable.

Koken Back Station…Refinished and well stocked.

Cigar label…one of the rarest!

Straight razor display case

Proud barbers cup! Another fine example.

Tonsorial parlors stuff

Lug line up of Loken label under glass Barber Bottles

Chromo advertising page – with Ken Osteen.

Vegederma and Cybeline..the genie hair tonics!

Mineral Point, Wisconsin..reverse painted sign.

Oldie NY shop token! 1837

Fan hanger hair restorer sign Mrs. Allens – with Ken Osteen

Grand-daddy James Clyde Gordon giving a haircut to Alvin Young while J.C. Swindell sits in the opposite chair telling hunting stories…Ludowici, Georgia…Mr. Clyde had a 99 year lease on this barbershop for five dollars a month!…little uncle Johnny is in the background looking on… Waiting to sweep hair… Shine shoes…run errands… Child labor was a life saver for everyone..and dagd gum it ..it still is!!!!!!!!

Read more: Occupational Shaving Mugs

Read more: A Sampling of the Famous David P. Wilber Barber Bottle Collection