The missing Michelin Man remains missing.
However, in contacting the seller about the lost corkscrew, he mentioned a spare Michelin…
Of course, who wouldn’t have a spare…
The Michelin corkscrew was mailed out the other day, and word from the UK this morning, was that the replacement Michelin Man arrived safely!
Two weeks ago, or so, a figural Michelin Man figural corkscrew was listed on eBay for a pretty fair buy it now price–not that I really needed a Michelin Man corkscrew…
And, I was reluctant to press the Buy it Now option, as the shipping on the piece was double the asking price.
Considering my options, I changed my address to a UK mailing address, and promptly clicked and paid.
And, then messaged Peter to tell him that the Michelin Man was heading his way.
A few days later, the envelope within which the Michelin Man was housed arrived, but apparently the Michelin Man had found his way out of the envelope…having escaped through a tear in the corner.
So, if you happen to be wandering the UK, and see a Michelin Man just laying on the sidewalk somewhere between Worthington and Reading, feel free to pick him up, and send him my way.
Speaking of which, does anyone have any backstory / history on the Michelin Man corkscrew? If you do, feel free to share.
We are in the final week of 2022, and the corkscrew collecting world is being flooded with emails from collectors who are sending out their Best Six of the year.
And, it also fascinating to see what other collectors have collected over the course of the year, and there are always some new finds, some corkscrews and cork extractors that were previously unknown. And, it motivates me; to hunt, to gather, to bid, to buy, to inquire, and to hunt some more.
And, I wish you all a year of good hunting!
You never know what you are going to find.
And, I have been putting a wish list out there for many years, and largely the wish list remains the same year in and year out, as I haven’t found those particular corkscrews of which I am desirous.
Still, there are corkscrews that find their way into the collection that not only make the best six of the year, but also make one wonder what new discoveries are out there; corkscrews that aren’t in any book, or are in a patent drawing, but an example was previously yet known.
Clearly, knowing that a corkscrew was made, and has previously been disovered, would lead you to believe there are others out there. With few exceptions, whomever made it, wouldn’t just make one.
And, for years, one of the wishes, is to find something from the back of O”Leary’s tome on American patented corkscrews–or as with the Blantz patent this year, something that doesn’t appear in the front OR back of O’Leary.
So, this list will largely look like last year’s wish list, and let’s see if we can’t make this happen in 2023. Or, at least get a few of the six.
Here they are:
Wish list for 2023…
Frary Sullivan
Something from the back of O’Leary
Frary with can opener
Charles Alexander patent of 1860. I don’t know if this was ever made, but I certainly hope it was.
1883 White patent. As mentioned in the past, I did once find a White patent in the wilds of Iowa, but it was broken. Still, there has to be others out there.
Zeilin patent: pictured on page 63 of O’Leary and marked, “ONE TEASPOONFULL PARRISHS HYPOPHOSPHITES, J.H. ZEILIN & CO. PHILA, PA”
From a 1930 issue of National Sportsman:
1, Charles Chinnock’s patent #299,738, awarded June 3, 1884; unmarked (See O’Leary p. 67).
I found this particular corkscrew walking the fields of Brimfield Antique Flea Market in September. After putting in miles and miles of walking the fields, after hitting every booth that was open, after a day of solid rain, there was little to be had. The next day the sun was shining, and in the second field that opened that morning, with only three booths left to visit in the field, just sitting on a table in some random antique dealer’s stall, was the Chinnock.
Persistence my friends. There are still treasures out there just waiting to be discovered…
2. Sterling triple medicine spoon (1 teaspoon, 2 teaspoons, 1 tablespoon) marked THEODORE B. STARR, INC., and STERLING (Theodore B. Starr became incorporated in 1907, and closed operations in 1918, when it was sold to Reed & Barton).
3. Pie crimper / can opener / with corkscrew, marked PAT APLD. FOR on the can opener.
4. Charles Blantz’ design patent #46,310 awarded August 25, 1914.
The patent drawing merely says “Tool.” And, the patent description, mentions none of its uses, “Be it know that I, Clayton H. Blantz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new, original, and ornamental Design for Tools, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.”
This year, I found the Blantz patent, as well as an advertisement that explains its functions; most importantly “Cork Extractor”
5. Brown and Bigelow bottle shaped roundlet corkscrew made of aluminum, and serving as a promotional piece for BROWN & BIGELOW, Remembrance Advertising, REG. U.S. PAT. OFF., ST. PAUL MINNESOTA.
6. Lucien Mumford’s patent awarded May 10, 1892, marked (faintly) Magic, CORK EXTRACTOR, PAT. MCH. 4-79., MAY 10-92, MADE IN U.S.A. This the square/flat example (See O’Leary, p. 84).
On January 1st, 1889,
George Edwards was awarded patent number 396,618 for his Cork-Extractor:
His patent description explains that is invention is:
An improved cork-extractor consisting of a frame or stock having an annular foot and a tubular top with notches, a tubular power-screw carried in the top and having a free lineal movement therein, said screw having a top disk, a corkscrew the twist or thread of which is the reverse of that of the power-screw, said corkscrew having a stem passing freely through the tubular power-screw and provided with a head flange fitting in the top disk of said power-screw, the pawl or catching bar in the top disk and having projecting ends, and the notches in the stem-head flange, the handle-cap fitting over the top disk and engaging the projecting ends of the catch-bar, and the nut seated on the power-screw and having projections or teeth, whereby it is detachably connected with the notched top of the frame or stock, substantially as for the purpose herein described.
Okay then…
From the patent images, I kind of get what Edwards is saying, but I think I need to find one of these, and try it out myself.
Do any of you have an 1889 Edwards patent Cork Extractor?
josef@vintagecorkscrews.com corkscrewing around 