Hella Shriner Metal cups (chrome or silverplate) inside leather holder

Any idea what this set would have been used for? Top reads: Hella Dallas Texas, seems to have a Shriner connection.

Inside are two chrome or silverplate cups (marked "R" and Germany) gold finish lined, one fits inside the other, then both in the leather holder. Leather holder measures approx 3", metal glass inserts 2 1/2".

Would these have been ceremonial in anyway? Could use some keywords or additional info. Thanks!

 

shot glass.....or cup...

 

Thanks. The inserts are bigger than a shot glass, a tad small for a normal cup, but could be a set of travels cup or something. They hold around 4 oz.

There must be others out there, just not sure what keywords to search so I can list properly. Also if anyone recognizes the mark on the cup (an "R" in an arrow-like border) please let me know.

Thank for taking a look!

 

WorthPoint
Masonic Hella Metal Cups Dallas Texas With Round Black Box ...says it sold on ebay.

 

i thought they were smaller...... ...travel cups...i have a set somewhere.....but not fancy.....just metal..

 

Awesome, Ulilwitch! That's the exact set. Thank you. Funny that seller said they couldn't find another either.

They don't mention the maker's mark on the cups. I think if this has any value worth posting (anyone out there with a WP account?) the Shriner connection is probably worth more than any attribution to a maker, but still like to be thorough in my description.

Thank you!

 

I keep thinking a ball should be hidden under one of them.

 

when German-made then Hella has the meaning of "heller" = brighter; most probably an alloy that can be polished to a brighter silver appearance. they were probably made with individual differing prints and originally thought of as part of a basket set for automobiles or as travelling set.

 

A flea market, how appropriate to this site:

https://hellashrine.org/

They're in Garland, TX, a suburb of Dallas.

 

You are welcome.

 

The 'R-in-keystone' mark belonged to Philadelphia leather goods manufacturer C.F. Rumpp & Sons (Pennsylvania=Keystone State), the 'Germany' mark is just an indicator of where the cups were made for the importer - likely dates early to mid 20th century (Hella Shriners founded in 1888)...

~Cheryl

 

Here's a 1922 Rumpp ad showing, at bottom center, a collapsible travel cup in what looks to be a similar case:





~Cheryl