Be sure to check out the collectorcorkscrews.com auction! Lots are ending today, starting at 1:00 pm est. time.
You can see the lots here!
Bid high, and bid often!
Advertisements
Rees Vest Fulcrum Corkscrew
As mentioned the other day, there are two known versions of the Rees patent. The long handled one, that will soon be arriving on the island, and the Rees Vest Fulcrum Corkscrew.
I don’t have this piece, but if anyone does have a Rees Vest Fulcrum Corkscrew, I would happily make an offer–trade or buy.
In 1907, Rees was definitely making an effort to get his corkscrew to market.
In both newspapers and magazines from that timeframe, the following ad appears:
There were other advertisements that were a bit more concise, but added the tagline, “It’s in the Fulcrum.”
Rees’s Pieces
In 2015, I blogged about a Rees patent corkscrew, having found an 1908 article that pictured the piece.
The 1908 Pittsburgh Daily Post article explained:
Everyone will undoubtedly welcome the successful effort of a Philadelphia inventor to improve the old-fashioned corkscrew which has been in use for ages and still retains its regular form. Attempts to pull a cork with the ordinary cork-
screw in many cases ends disastrously to the person making the attempt, especially when the cork fits tightly in the neck of the bottle and refuses to be removed until the bottle has been placed between the knee and the corkscrew tugged at for several minutes. Then it invariably comes out with a sudden jerk, throwing contents in all directions. Notice how simply and easily even the most tightly wedged cork can be withdrawn with the corkpuller shown in the accompanying illustration. After the corkscrew proper has been inserted in the cork, the upright arm forming a wedge is placed on the neck of the bottle. Using the handle as a lever, the most obstinate cork can be readily extracted without endangering the clothes of the operator. When not in use the corkscrew and wedge can be folded within the outer end of the handle, which is hollowed out to form a housing.
Clearly this is the Rees patent. And, despite its ability to remove, “the most obstinate cork…,” the Rees, and there are two versions of it, simply doesn’t turn up.
Tommy lucked out in a road trip several years ago, and found a Rees for the smoking price of 8 dollars–this one making his best 6 for that year.
And, of course, there was one that turned up on the collectorcorkscrews.com auction.
Again, given the scarcity, it brought a substantial number–quite a bit more than Tommy’s steal.
Okay, so where are you going with this Josef?
Well, a couple of days ago, several auction lots appeared on a non-eBay auction site. And, there were multiple lots that contained corkscrews. There were nice things in each, but largely common stuff.
In one lot, there was a power cone. And, I kept an eye on that one.
After seeing that lot, I continued to peruse the other listings in the auction.
And, then something caught my eye.
At the base of the box… Is that?
Indeed.
It is a Rees patent
I did place a couple of bids on the Power Cone lot. Given I was outbid immediately, I figured someone wanted it more than I, and I should just let it go.
Still, I decided to hold off bidding on the Rees lot until the closing minutes, hoping that it would slip through.
On the online bidding, it did.
I was the high bidder, but all of the auction lots were next to be taken to a live auction; one that was not being broadcast online. No jumping into the fray, I just had to hope for the best, and also hope that Barry wasn’t nearby, as the auction house was only a couple hours away from him in Florida.
The auction ended Saturday, but no email came through to confirm that I was the winner. So, I sent the auctioneer an email, and received a response later that afternoon.
Confirmations of winning bids will be sent on Monday…
Monday???
Ever hopeful, as of 11:45 I still hadn’t received a confirmation. And, I was pretty sure this one got away.
Until, I got a message from the lovely saying that there ware a voicemail from an auctioneer. I checked voicemail.
YES!!!
Yes! I did win the lot with the Rees!!!
This surely will make the best 6 of the year. Better pictures of the Rees after it arrives and is cleaned up a bit.
Let the Bidding Begin!
It is that time of year again, and the latest collectorcorkscrews.com auction is open for bidding.
What corkscrews will change hands? What bidding wars will erupt? There are lots of fantastic corkscrews upon which to bid!
Good luck!
when steampunk goes awry
I completely understand repurposing…
But, when it comes to bar screws, please stop.
Remember what Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker (Spiderman).
“With great power, comes great responsibility.”
Fix the corkscrews, if they need repair. Do not…install a light socket.
Visiting the R. Murphy Knife Company
As you all know, I am a little obsessed with Murphy corkscrews. And, a couple of years ago, while visiting with friends in Connecticut, one of their friends, mentioned that yet another friend had recently purchased the R. Murphy Knife Company.
Well, relatively recently, they bought it about 10 years ago.
Last year, a small group of us got together for dinner, and as it was the same group (pretty much) from ur previous get together, the subject of Murphy was discussed once again, and emails were exchanged.
The following day, I sent of an email to the new owners introducing myself, and mentioning the Bob Nugent article on Murphy. They responded enthusiastically, and explained that they too had a copy of Nugent’s article, and were welcome to a visit, to allow us to look at the catalogs in their collection, and to see the corkscrews that remained at the factory.
Wait… what? There are Murphy corkscrews that still remain at the Murphy factory?
This email exchange took place in the late Summer of last year, and knowing that they would be going into their busy holiday season, we revisited the conversation after Christmas, we settled in a time to visit recently.
The owners also asked if I could bring some of the Murphys from our collection, so a box was loaded up, and we headed off the island.
The R. Murphy Knife Company is located in Ayer, Massachusetts, and it would take few hours to get there, so the lovely personal personal trainer and I headed out with coffee in hand.
A few hours later, we arrived!
Gathering the aforementioned box of Murphy corkscrews, we headed in and were greeted by Mimi and Mark, the new(ish) owners of Murphy. We exchanged pleasantries, and thanked them for the invitation.
In short order, the conversation turned to corkscrews, and they showed us the catalogs that were in their possession, followed by 5 corkscrews. Two of which were the Murphy patent disc with the upturned hook. And, they were in fabulous shape, given they never left the factory.
As, we paged through the catalogs, and discussed some of the products they make today, we again returned to corkscrews, as they wanted to see what I had brought.
I brought a few…
Before long, we started comparing the corkscrews to the catalogs…
And, intermittently, various employees would enter into the office from the shop, and take a look at pile of corkscrews laying on the conference table.
Interestingly, it was the stag handled bell that seemed to be the corkscrew to which most of the folk were drawn.
While the conversation continued, I returned to the catalogs and took photos of each page that featured the corkscrews. These will be added to the Murphy website at a future date.
After the corkscrew extravaganza, we were invited to tour the Murphy factory where they make a myriad of different knives.
The entire process from beginning to finished product was fascinating, and the fact that they still use some machines that date to the 1930’s is remarkable.
One particular tool cabinet, I thought was remarkably cool, as it was relocated from Mansfield, MA to Ayer when the company moved here. So, this quite literally was Robert Murphy’s tool box.
Following the tour, we headed back to the office, and chatted a bit more about the company, and all of the fantastic knives and tools that they are making.
Mimi requested some Murphy corkscrews for their collection, when I run across others, and I promised that I would work on putting together a small collection for them.
A great visit!
Thanks for the hospitality Mimi and Mark!
Happy Easter! and, Happy April Fool’s Day!
Sue and I have been doing a bit of traveling the last week or so, and the bloggy blog will soon be filled with tales of our adventures.
Here are a few photos, and I will fill in with the story in the coming days
And of course today is both Easter and April Fools Day… so happy both.
More in the next day or so….
Stay tuned !
Bonzo?
I was offered this celluloid figural corkscrew the other day, and he bears a resemblance to Bonzo the Dog.
He may not be Bonzo,
but it is also a figural celluloid dog that I can’t remember seeing before.
What do you think? Bonzo, or not Bonzo?
Better pictures will be posted when it arrives.
L.F. Van Zelm’s 1929 “Up-to-date Cork Extractor”
From the October 28th 1929 issue of The Daily Reporter (Greenfield, Indiana)
Winkelmeyer Brewing
This afternoon, I hopped on eBay for a moment, and there sat a Clough wire double helix corkscrew with brewery advertising with a buy it now of $17.50 or best offer option.
I weighed my options for a moment, but knowing that I couldn’t remember seeing that particular marking before, I opted not to make an offer, but instead, clicked the buy it now option.
Marked JUL. WINKELMEYER BREW’G. ASSN., word has already come through that only a few have been found.
And, after a brief exchange of messages, it has been placed in the Tipped Worm Johnny pile for a future deal.
On that note… I was contacted by a brewery collector looking for the same corkscrew but with a marking for “M. SCHORR BREWERY WATERLOO, ILLS.”
If you have one, feel free to drop me a line.
