"reel up expression to itself on a mustache" means to remember, take into consideration, to consider, it indicates importance and usefulness of information. There are several versions of origin of this phraseological unit.
Small knots and drugs
In Ancient Russia there was a special type of storage of information – records were made in the form of the small knots tied on a thread. This system of storing was used more by doctors – by means of the small knots tied on a thread in a certain order they wrote prescriptions. Small knots meant the code which contained information when it was necessary to take any given medicine. For an extract of such recipes in most cases took red thread.
Such storage technique of information was used also in other countries, the truth with small distinction – doctors specially used multi-colored threads to distinguish one medicine for another, on each of them small knots were tied and carried them a sheaf. Also tried to use woolen threads since was considered that wool improves blood circulation and it promotes faster recovery.
In Ancient Russia such threads with small knots in the people called "nauzam" and tied on ankles or a wrist, called this occupation "reel up науз". Subsequently also ordinary people in life began to use this ancient method of storing and at trade. "reel up expression to itself on a mustache" according to this version it was formed from accord of the name of a charm with small knots of "nauz" with the word "moustache", the mustache are longer, the more on them it is possible to make small knots for memory and to remember more, so to speak to reel up to itself wisdom.
And yet mustache!
According to the second version the expression was formed directly from the word "moustache". This assumption includes several options of origin of a phrase "reel up on a mustache". On the one hand, this phraseological unit was formed owing to acceptance of mustache as symbol of experience, wisdom and man's maturity, they appear with age, and the man, the more densely and more long at it mustache is more senior and is more skilled. On the other hand, in pre-Pertine times all men carried beards and many of them were accustomed to fray it or to nervously twist mustache when they think of something. Their grumbling wives spoke to them "Reel up to yourself on a mustache!" meaning "remember", "take into consideration", "don't forget", and next time when the man in reflections reached for mustache, he at once remembered what he was spoken by the wife about, and went to do it. Presently few men carry beards and furthermore mustache therefore "reel up roots of expression to yourself on a mustache" sank into oblivion. Now to people it is more habitual "deliver itself a cross for memory" and, having seen it, at once to remember any important information.