Combined Corkscrew and Time Dial…

From an 1891 issue of Pharmaceutical Record:

 

THE CLOUGH CORKSCREW AND CAPSULE COMPANY, 132 Nassau street, New York, issue an illustrated price list of vial Corkscrews and Capsules.  The Wire Corkscrew Rings are made plain, and also with name in raised letters stamped on the ring with steel dies.  Folding Corkscrews are made with decorated metal handles, with name printed to order on the outside, or both outside and inside.  Combined Corkscrew and Time Dials are so arranged that the Corkscrews serves as a hand to designate the hour at which time medicine is to be taken.  Clough’s Capsule is metal cap designed to fit over the upper portion of the cork, to facilitate the removing of the cork from the bottle.  This company is prepared to quote prices on these goods in quantities up to 1000 gross.

 

For years, I have been on the hunt for the Combined Corkscrew and Time Dial; also known as Clough’s Medicine Dial.

 

 

On Don Bull’s site, Ron MacLean explains that in 1977 Bob Nugent found a number of them and gave them away as Christmas gifts to fellow members of the ICCA.

I was not a member of the ICCA in 1977 (I was still in grammar school), so I wasn’t one of the fortuitous recipients.

That said, yesterday a deal was struck, and a Combined Corkscrew and Time Dial is heading to the island.

 

 

Thanks for the trade RL!

 

 

Paging Dr. Pierce…

In 2017, I blogged about the Whitehead & Hoag corkscrew.

Ten years earlier, Mark Woodard had found an example, and as I mentioned three years ago, Don Bull published information about Mark’s find on his Daily/Weekly Screw page.

And, as a follow up, Jack Bandy responded showing his example of the Whitehead & Hoag, also appearing on Don’s website.

As it happened, I ran across a different example, and it made my best six of 2008

Over time, Mark’s R. V. Pierce version made its way into John Morris’ collection, and Jack’s Mangels and Schmidt’s version ended up on Tommy Campnell’s collection by way of Don Bull.

For those keeping score, the Whitehead & Hoag corkscrew, is the G.B Adams patent of 1896.

 

Sometimes marked on the side with the 1896 patent date, and on the back with both 1894 and 1896 patent dates, the patent was assigned to Whitehead & Hoag.

Three years ago, I managed to procure a R. V. Pierce, M. D. Whitehead & Hoag pinback corkscrew.

 

And it sits adjacent to the “I have my “eye” one on you.” version.

It made my best six for 2017.

A couple of days ago, a deal was struck for another Dr. Pierce, and it got me wondering what other examples are out there?

I recognize that I have asked this question before, but do you have a Whitehead & Hoag (G.B. Adams patent) pinback corkscrew in your collection?

If you do, what is the advertisement upon it.

And, if you are up for a trade, R.V. Pierce, M.D., would happily come make a house call.

Skull Corkscrew

Several weeks ago, a figural skull corkscrew appeared on eBay.

It started with a fairly substantial buy it now price, but over the following days the price was reduced, and reduced again.

With no interest, the listing was ended.

A week or so later, it was listed again, with a price reduction.

I was interested, but being rather frugal when it comes to corkscrews, I still refrained from pushing the “buy it now” button.

Knowing the seller, and he knowing I was interested, he sent me a note about the piece.  I responded with my “yes, I want it price.”  And, a deal was struck.

An interesting figural, with a worm that has some decided age to it.

I haven’t quite figured out what the material is.

A cool piece nonetheless, and a nice addition to the collection.

The piece is super smooth.   Celluloid?

For Begg’s Medicines

The other day, I ran across an online advertisement for a pair of Clough medicine band corkscrews.

One was of the more common variety, and the second had an ad for “FOR BEGG’S MEDICINES.”

After emailing the seller, I convinced him to sell me just the Begg’s, as I didn’t have it in the medicine band collection.

Securing the deal, I headed to Don Bull’s list of Clough medicine band list, and not seeing the Begg’s there, I revisited Barry Taylor’s more recent publication on known medicine bands…   It wasn’t there either.

In a little rough shape, but a neat addition to the Clough medicine bands in our collection.

Do you have a a For Begg’s Medicine amongst your Clough’s?

Herlihy and Dorsey

In Ian Hunter’s Best Six of 2017, one of the six was an odd multitool with a fold out corkscrew.  An American patent, it is a really neat looking piece.

In a recent Zoom call with Ian, he held the Herlihy and Dorsey patent up in front of the camera, and a few days later, I asked if he would send images of the piece, and he okayed them for the bloggy blog.

It is marked with the Patent No.

PAT. No. 2,009,774

This is the 1935 patent of John J. Herlihy and Joseph P. Dorsey for their Cap Turning Implement.

While no corkscrew is mentioned in the patent, at some point, they must have felt compelled to include one…

In their patent, the patentees claim:

“The present invention relates to improvements in an implement for applying and removing the caps of jars, bottles of the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide an implement of the above mentioned character, having a large range of adjustment so that it will properly engage caps of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an implement of the above mentioned character which may be used as a nutcracker.

A futher object of the invention is to provide an implement of the above mentioned character which may be used as a can opener.

A further object of the invention is to provide an implement of the above mentioned character so constructed that the pull up the implement to shift the same in turning the cap will also be utilized in clamping the jaws upon the cap.”

 

A very interesting patented corkscrew multi-tool that doesn’t appear in the back (or front) of O’Leary.

Is there another Herlihy & Dorsey out there?  I would love to add one to the collection!

NOTE:  This note came in from Ian this morning:

“Just pointing out that there is a little housing for the corkscrew which is not in the patent either. Without the housing,the addition of the corkscrew might be questioned.”

This is the housing that Ian is referencing:

Back to corkscrewing around…

As with many of you, if not practically ALL of you, given Covid 19, our state has been asked to practice safe distancing and / or sheltering in place.

Not that there a are lot of people on Vinalhaven to need to distance yourself from.

I mean, the island is the same size as Manhattan–in a square mileage sense, with roughly a population of only 1200.

Still, I am working from home, and am on a Zoom call nearly 8 hours a day.  Not always the same meeting, but multiple meetings back-to-back, as we work to take 7 different colleges curriculum and put it online, and are now working to create workforce training in the same manner.

And, the lovely personal personal trainer, is running the wine shop, as the governor in Maine, recognized that wine, beer, and cheese are essential items…

Mostly these are curbside pick-ups and some deliveries, but there is the occasional person to come in–she is limiting  two customers at a time in the shop.  But, then again…with 1200 people on the island including kids, this time of year, no more than two is pretty manageable.

I will reiterate, with the circumstance within which we find ourselves, wine and beer is MORE than ESSENTIAL!

So, the Corkscrew Room is now my office.  And, while antiquing has come to a halt, other than online, I have come to realize that I need more corkscrews…

A Philos Blake patent would be a welcome addition, and it would fit nicely alongside the M.L. Byrn patent!

Feel free to send pictures of corkscrews you have to trade or sell!

And, Stay Safe Everyone!