CAST STEEL CORKSCREW (and screwdriver)

Over the years, I have had several T-handled corkscrews incised in the shaft of the corkscrew CAST STEEL.  And, these particular corkscrews are known to have been manufactured by Humason & Beckley.  Recently, I found an advertisement for them, that even mentions CAST STEEL corkscrews.

Manufacturers of WROUGHT, BRASS, STEEL AND IRON HARDWARE, 

INCLUDING

Steel Plyers, Belt, Punches, Cast-Steel Corkscrews, Hand or Stair-Rail Screws, Ornamental Cupboard Latches, Wrought Spring Bolts, Wrought Necked Bull Rings, Japanned Hooks and Staples, Patent Leading Clasps, Steel Marking Awls, Table Nut-Crackers, Hooks and Eyes, Steel Ox Bow-Pins, Ice-Picks, Skaters’ Gimlets, Cast-Steel Hammers, Mineing Knives, Sash Locks, Tuning Forks, Triangles, Pocket Cutlery, &c., &c.

Yesterday, a deal was struck for an interesting corkscrew, also marked CAST STEEL, but with a folding corkscrew, much like a can opener.  Could this also be H & B?

Do any of you have a similar piece, perhaps with different markings.

What do you think? H & B?  Or, another maker?

 

Enrique’s Holy Grail

Enrique messaged a few photos yesterday of his Holy Grail Corkscrew.

When he finds one, it will become part of a lovely collection of Thomasons!

Thanks Enrique!

Bob’s Holy Grail…

After asking what is your corkscrew holy grail, Bob G. emailed in with is, explaining:

“My Holy Grail Corkscrew is the Philos Blake patent no. 27,665 of March 27, 1860. While it may or may not be the “first patent for a corkscrew “ it is certainly my number 1.”

Thanks Bob!

Other than a Briard (French Sheep Dog) named Philos Blake, we don’t have a Blake in the collection either.

Who else wants to chime in.  What is that ONE corkscrew that you would love to add to your collection?

The Holy Grail…

I will preface this by saying, that as I peruse the back of O’Leary and scan patent drawings of corkscrews that have still yet to have been discovered, there are countless American patented corkscrews that I would love to add to the collection.

And, over the last 20 years or so, I have been able to add several that were considered in our collective corkscrewy world, as new new discoveries.

For longtime readers, the one corkscrew that is my holy grail, will not come as a surprise.      I have known of two examples.  One a dealer friend in Connecticut told me about, years after he had sold it.  And, the other, is in Ion’s collection in Romania.  I am guessing that they didn’t make only two…

It’s a Frary, of course, and I know that someday one will present itself, and it will round out the James D. Frary corkscrew collection.

This has been on my wish list for years, and clearly continues to be.

Here it is as shown in an 1889 issue of Iron Age:

Combined Corkscrew, Can-Opener, Ice Pick, &e

 

It is the corkscrew that I WANT in the collection…   This example is in Ion’s collection.

If any one out there has this…  Please drop me a line.

That all said, what is the ONE corkscrew that you want to add to your collection?  What is YOUR Holy Grail?  Send photos or drawings…  I will post them here.

taking a moment

Well, word has been coming out that our various club meetings have been cancelled; JFO, CCCC, ICCA, and as of today, the upcoming Collectorcorkscrews auction has cancelled the April auction.

Sue and I are practicing social distancing from others as much as possible.

I know, that this is a strange time, and I long for us to return to normalcy.

Although, I doubt that normalcy will be at all normal.

So, given that so many of us are working from home these days, let’s get some corkscrew conversations started.

A couple of years ago, I had readers send in photos of their favorite corkscrews, or their ugliest corkscrew.  How about what is your most wanted corkscrew; your holy grail!

Send in photos, and I will post them here.  You never know, maybe someone has an extra of what you are looking for!

I will post my own tomorrow.  The corkscrew I would love to add to the collection above all others.

Finally, I am thankful for all of you, and I look forward to when social distancing is no longer the norm, and we can return to social embracing.

Stay safe, and hunt for corkscrews!

No. 205… Cork Screw Scarf of Stick pin…

From the 1907 W.G. Walz Company’s

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE

AND RETAIL PRICE OF

Mexican and Indian

SOUVENIRS AND CURIOSITIES

MEXICAN DRAWNWORK 

 

No. 205…  Cork Screw Scarf of Stick pin…

Butte Montana Spoon…

Yesterday, I was messaging back and forth with a fellow collector, and I inquired about medicine corkscrews; specifically the Zeilin patent dosage cup corkscrew.

He responded that he had one of those folding spoons with advertising.  And, in short order a photo was sent.

When I looked at the photo, however, it had a different advertisement than what usually turns up.  I couldn’t make out all the letters in the name, and I am not near the collection, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t one I had.

I asked how much, and he asked me to make an offer.

I did.

He accepted.

So, this is on its way to Maine.  Now… what is the name on the spoon?

While clearly I can wait until it arrives, I opted to enlarge the images with photoshop, and examined what I saw.

BUTTE MONTANA was fairly obvious

And clearly there is N. MAIN ST.

But…  E. ___ALLOGLY & C

With a little digging around, I found the answer.

E. E. GALLOGLY & CO…

That would be Elmer Ellsworth for those wondering about the E. E.

Thanks for the spoon James!

Legs…

These are on their way to Maine…

Better pictures when they arrive, but who doesn’t appreciate a pair of ladies legs?

Or, four pair…