Philos Blake: Photo courtesy of the New Haven Museum.
Philos Blake the Briard…waving “hello.”
Philos Blake corkscrew alongside the M.L. Byrn patent; both patents awarded the same day…
Three Blakes
Category Archives: Brimfield
1954 McGill
From the 1954 publication Inventor’s Handbook
Under the Patent Office’s category of “Cork Extractors” we find this familiar-looking device of 1867. Can openers of this style have, of course, become obsolete, but there are several contemporary corkscrews based on this principle.
The 1867 corkscrew described (and pictured) in Inventor’s Handbook is, of course, the 1867 McGill (#61,080) patent.
Interestingly, the McGill has still yet to have turned up with the frame and can opener, mirroring the patent drawing, and instead, when found, is a simple direct pull, with a can opener end; usually marked PATENT:
That said, I would love to find a spring mechanism frame corkscrew with can opener attached to the handle…that looks like the 1867 patent!
Lavin & Kitchen ~ Lavin & Lauer
5 years ago today, I received in the mail from TC, the top of a bar spoon jigger (without the jigger spoon part) that included a corkscrew. He apparently had intended to send it to me as a b-day gift, but couldn’t find it until a few months after said b-day had occurred.
His note, at the time read:
“Knew what I wanted to give you but couldn’t find it… Found it! Happy birthday Brother. See you in a few weeks.”
It has been sitting in the corkscrew collection since, and was a welcome addition.
The missing spoon would look something like this:
However, there are several versions of the spoon with jigger, and finding the right one appropriate to the corkscrew top has proven somewhat difficult. Actually, the jigger spoons show up from time to time, but it is difficult to figure out which jigger spoon should be the appropriate fit.
Until recently!
For those of you that receive The Bottle Scrue Times, thanks to DC, we have come to learn that the little bar tool with jigger spoon is actually a patent. And, was made by Lavin and Lauer.
The patent was granted to James A. Lavin and Edgar M. Kitchen for a design patent for their “Bulk Measuring Device” # 84,090 on May 5, 1931.
Following a bit of sleuthing, after reading Dick’s article, and having my much appreciated b-day gift from Tommy at the ready, the other day I finally managed to find the appropriate spoon to which the corkscrew is supposed to be attached.
Thanks again TC! And, thanks DC for the fabulous write-up and discovery!
Matthews’ 1893 patent arrives…
Yesterday, the Matthews patent door securer with corkscrew arrived, and it didn’t disappoint.
Nicely marked, it is in fabulous condition with a sharp helix, and it is an awesome addition to the collection.
Marked PAT APL’D FOR
Note: the door securer is threaded, and screws into the center piece.
As mentioned previously, it is marked for Matthews’ 1892 patent, as his 1893 patent is a combination of his 1892 patent with the addition of the case and corkscrew in 1893.
And, the corkscrew does function as a peg and worm, with the door securer serving as the peg.
I haven’t tried this out yet…as a corkscrew NOR as a door securer…
Weiss-Eichold
This morning, while sipping coffee, I was checking email, and JM sent in a photo of the two Lowenstein patents in their collection.
One was a red A & P, and the other, I had never seen or heard of before, serving as an advertisement for:
WEISS – EICHOLD
LIQUOR CO.
MOBILE
ALA
With a little research, it appears that Weiss-Eichold was wholesale dealer of Liquors, Cigars, and Tobaccos, and apparently a “Rectifier of Spirits.”
And, they produced brands such as A BIG HIT whiskey, GOLDEN CREAM whiskey, and blended brands such as BELLE OF MOBILE, RAG TIME, and SIMON SUGGS.
Awesome to add another Lowenstein to the list Thanks JM!
Keep them coming.
Thus far the here is the known examples…
“BAILEY’S H & C PURE RYE”
“FRANCIS H LEGGETT & CO. NEW YORK”
“F. WESTHEIMER & SONS, PLANET, SOUR MASH, ST. JOSEPH, MO”
“HANCE BROS. & WHITE, PHARMCL CHEMISTS PHILADELPHIA”
“HUMPHREY & MARTIN’S FINE WHISKEYS PHILAD“ (in yellow or tan)
“PEARL WEDDING RYE”
“PEARL WEDDING SELECT WHISKEY”
“THE GREAT A & P TEA CO. EXTRACTS” (in red or yellow/tan).
“WEISS-EICHOLD, LIQUOR DEALERS, MOBILE, ALA”
What others are out there?
What Lowenstein patents do you have in your collection?
Looking for Lowenstein…
I am currently working on an article on the 1903 Lowenstein patent corkscrew.
In looking at the past collectorcorkscrews.com auctions, these sometimes are referred to as a:
“Clough Corkscrew with hang tag”
“Clough Corkscrew with advertising tab”
“Clough Corkscrew with hanging tag”
“Clough Corkscrew with adverting tag”
“Clough Tin Lithograph Hanging Tab”
And, within O”Leary – the Lowenstein patent of 1903–and Fred explained that these were most likely made by Clough.
Lowenstein, amongst other illustrations, shows this in his patent:
There are several known variations of advertising on the Lowenstein, and I am just trying to compile a list of known examples.
So, if you have a Lowenstein patent with advertising (or without advertising if such an animal exists) please let me know.
I would be interesting in adding your version to the list. And, if you want to send pictures of yours, feel free to email me at josef@vintagecorkscrews.com
Here is the current list of Lowenstein’s that I have seen:
“BAILEY’S H & C PURE RYE”
“FRANCIS H LEGGETT & CO. NEW YORK”
“F. WESTHEIMER & SONS, PLANET, SOUR MASH, ST. JOSEPH, MO”
“HANCE BROS. & WHITE, PHARMCL CHEMISTS PHILADELPHIA”
“HUMPHREY & MARTIN’S FINE WHISKEYS PHILAD“ (in yellow or tan)
“PEARL WEDDING RYE”
“PEARL WEDDING SELECT WHISKEY”
“THE GREAT A & P TEA CO. EXTRACTS” (in red or yellow/tan).
What others are out there? Drop me a line!
The Norvic Corkscrew Mystery
Just the other day, a patent pending corkscrew was ending on eBay, and while on my watch list, I forgot to place a bid.
I don’t have the Norvic rack and pinion, and would love to add one to the collection if you have one.
And, in some ways it was good that I didn’t throw out a bid, as the winning bidder was Bob G.
After this win, we were exchanging messages about the piece, and we began to wonder who Norvic is / was.
That said, before we start heading down that path, Bob was messing around with the rack and pinion corkscrew, and noticed that the helix seemed a little loose.
He explained, “While inspecting the Norvic closely, I thought what? A loose helix? But, on further inspection, I discovered it was equipped with a replaceable helix.”
Our exchange continued, and we set about trying to determine who Norvic might be.
Now, there is a Norvic Shipping, but they were established in the last 20 years, and we know this corkscrew has some relative age to it.
But, who (or what) is Norvic???
As you all know, I do get a little obsessive about this type of thing, and I started looking closely at the handle and the markings.
Is there information present that might help inform the search?
As you will notice, the NORVIC is not just a marking, but appears to be a very intentional font choice; a logo perhaps?
And, then there is the patent pending mark.
What is that odd set of characters just after U.S.A? Is this a clue?
What is the purpose of this?
Decoration?
Ancient alien code?
Perhaps a clue as to the mystery of Oak Island?
That all said, Bob and I thought it would make for an interesting discussion. And, so we put it out to all of you in blogland: Who (or what) is Norvic?
I did come up with a couple of options, but let the search commence.
Norvic Shoes?
Norvic Lager?
Who is Norvic!!!!????????!!!!!!!!??????
Do you know who Norvic is? And, whether you have ideas, or have the definitive answer, drop me a line at josef@vintagecorkscrews.com
And, if you have a Norvic corkscrew with which you would wish to part, feel free to email me as well.
Ian’s favorite find in the wild.
After posting about my favorite Brimfield find, Ian sent in his favorite / best find from the wild … purchased at the Sydney First Sunday Market.
An Unmarked Leboullanger bow with folding cutter blade.
A very cool piece!
Best or Favorite Find…
This morning, had life been normal, I would have woken up before daybreak, and headed out from some airbnb the lovely and I would have rented, and made my way to the antique mecca known as Brimfield–this would have been the second day of Brimfield’s May show.
On Wednesday morning at Brimfield, the first field opens at 6 a.m., and after buying your ticket for 5$, people line up waiting to get in.
And, and the appointed time, I would head off on the hunt; peaking into darkened areas with a flashlight, and over the course of the morning, asking the question and getting a similar response countless times:
“Do you have any antique corkscrews.”
Only to be met with, “What?”
“Corkscrews…”
followed by the internationally recognized pantomime of pulling a cork
On occasion, the response is in the affirmative, and sometimes, just sometimes, something fabulous is unearthed, sometimes emerging from a case, just laying out on a table, and on one or two occasions, emerging from a dealer’s pocket knowing that I would make my annual May sojourn to the fields of Brimfield, and they were holding it back for me.
That said, with the show being cancelled this year, I thought I would share some of my Brimfield finds from over the years, and also share my favorite find.
The images below, are all from various trips to Brimfield, and all are corkscrews found in those fields…
I will have to admit, when I got the collection at Brimfield, it was a banner day…
There have indeed been some fabulous finds at Brimfield, and these are just the from a few years of attending. Over the years, you would be amazed at what turns up, and this is with other corkscrew collectors roaming around Brimfield as well–and also making fabulous finds.
Still, despite some rare variations of the legs, and some cool patents, that have been picked up in May, July, or the September shows, there is one corkscrew that is my favorite Brimfield find.
And, that would be the A.W. Stephens patent.
It was on an early morning, on the first day of the show, and in a dark tent, I found a tray of Clough corkscrews, and noticed one that looked a little different. And, feeling for the end–opposite where the corkscrew would go it, it was hollowed out. I paid the asking price, and brought it into the early daylight to reveal the cigar perforator that was hidden inside.
It made my best six of that year, and was a very cool find whilst traipsing the fields.
While there have been lots of other finds, in various antique malls, stores, and similar, I would love to hear from each of you about your favorite find at you regular antique show.
If there is a regular antique show that you go to, or a regular large flea market that you attend, what has been your best or favorite find in the wild?
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!
josef@vintagecorkscrews.com corkscrewing around 