No one can accuse Garvin, the designer of this drunk matching 50’s couple, for thinking small: “Hip Nip can be used for Scotch, Mouthwash, Gin, Shave Lotion, Rye, Urine-analysis, Bicarb, Bourbon, Malted, Aspirins, Deodorant, Suntan oil and Hairdressing”. His mate, Hot Nip, only promises “to keep you warm”.
Hot Nip and Hip Nip are screen-printed and textured on soft plastic pint flasks. They have rubber heads and a screw-on cap wedged into their fat wrestler necks.
Although these are most valuable as a set, I’m not sure they were manufactured at the same time. “©Garvin… Milbit Mfg Co, Inc” is in 9 point flush left and flush right type at the bottom of Hot Nip while “©Garvin-Milbit” is in 3 point type centered at the bottom of Hip Nip. Though the discrepancy – most matched sets have consistent copyright info and placement – could also be because Garvin was out of room after he listed the voluminous amounts of substances that could inhabit Hip Nip or perhaps had imbibed some of them before he started.
“Milbit” is also carved into Hot Nip’s neck while Hip Nip’s remains bare:
Hot Nip is rarer than Hip Nip though they are both very popular citizens in my kitchen kommunity of Kitch.
Shannon
To die for! I love your vintage collectibles.
Allee
Thank you! It’s only the tip of the iceberg. Keep watching…
Shawn Robare
I just recently read about Hip Nip on the newly launched Monkey Goggles site (an Archie McPhee project): http://monkeygoggles.com/?p=121. Kirk Demarais did a nice write up of the 1959 PICO Novelty Catalog.
It’s so cool to see that the Nip is only one half of the Nips couple.
adrian
any idea where I can get one of these?
Allee
Search on Ebay and have them email you if one comes up.
Ben T Steckler
I Love the hipnips! Found the male in a thrift store about 17 years ago, and have been collecting Garvin/Milbit stuff ever since. I love the bold red and black screened boxes.
Found this in an image search for a friend who is thinking of starting a Milbit collection. Now I have to look for that Bosom Buddy flask you also talk about. Love the Kitsch!