The Tiny “Mug” That Isn’t a Mug at All: A Clever Vintage Kitchen Secret Revealed

“Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone can help identify this small mug-like item I found at a local thrift store. I tried searching online but couldn’t find anything. Any help would be appreciated.”

At first glance, it looks like a miniature coffee cup. Small handle, compact size, numbers printed around the outside. It’s easy to assume it’s a novelty espresso cup, a child’s toy dish, or maybe even a quirky decorative piece. But this tiny ceramic “mug” actually had a very practical and surprisingly clever purpose.

The item is a measuring cup from a vintage Howard Electric Egg Boiler — a small countertop appliance popular in mid-20th-century kitchens. And those mysterious numbers printed on the side? They’re not minutes. They’re water levels.

Here’s how it worked:

Instead of timing eggs manually on the stovetop, users would fill the ceramic cup with water up to a specific number — typically marked 3, 5, 7, or 9 — depending on how soft or firm they wanted the egg. That water would then be poured into the heating base of the egg boiler.

The appliance gently steamed the egg. Once all the measured water evaporated, the unit would automatically shut off. No guesswork. No overcooking. No standing over a pot watching the clock.

It was simple, efficient, and ahead of its time.

What makes this little cup especially charming is how unintimidating it looks. There’s no complicated mechanism — just thoughtful design. The ceramic construction ensured durability and easy cleaning. The numbered markings eliminated confusion. And the entire system turned boiling a single egg into a nearly foolproof process.