DON’T LET ANY WOMAN STRUGGLE with a corkscrew and risk cutting her hands to open tightly corked catsup, olive, pickle, medicine, or any other bottles.
THE YANKEE is screwed against upright surface ; Icebox, Sideboard, Door Frame, or Wall.
IT’S ALWAYS THERE. No hunting for a corkscrew, always ready to draw the tightest cork from any bottle. It never slips, never breaks the bottle.
Hold the bottle in position. Raise the handle and the screw enters the cork. Lower the handle, the tightest cork comes out, clean and whole, leaving no broken bits in the bottle, ad it is automatically discharged from the machine.
THE YANKEE CANNOT BREAK. Considering that this cork puller is practically indusestructbil and cannot get lost, you must realize that while its possession may be a luxury its purchase is eurel an economy. Settle this problem for a life time by ordering to-day.
If you were wondering… Yes, there was indeed a Brimfield Day Two…albeit, a quick one.
As it happened, after having a lovely dinner at The Student Prince, RL and I agreed to meet in the lobby at 5:20 AM, in anticipation of our drive to Brimfield.
And, we arrived just as the 6:00 field opened.
We each paid our 5 dollars to gain admission, and the hunt began.
With RL heading one direction, and I heading another, after about 30 minutes we crossed paths, and compared what had been found.
Then, we would retrace the other person’s steps just in case something else had been put out.
Nothing terrific in that particular field, but I did pick up an opener that would be fodder for the Just For Openers convention, which is held later this month, a somewhat not interesting Clough, and a much more interesting Sterling perfume corkscrew.
After scouring the fields, RL and I met up for a few moments, and discussed his need to get the railroad station to begin his trip back south.
With the fields being somewhat small this particular Brimfield, we decided on taking off, and seeing if he couldn’t get an earlier train.
We decided to leave Brimfield and head to the station, and if I had time I would circle back to the fields.
With the drive back to the train station being all of 30+ minutes, I dropped RL at the station, and circled back…
Heart of the Mart, and been open for all of 5 minutes when I parked the car, and got to the field… And, there were indeed a couple of corkscrews, nothing worth buying, but there were corkscrews.
Still, it was worth the trip back, as I got to see some old friends, and talk corkscrews…
And, of course, there were other treasures to be had…
The most tempting was the boxing ring bell.
Then it was time to hit the road, and make it back in time for the last ferry to Vinalhaven. I have no doubt that there were corkscrews to be had in the following days, and we will try again next year.
Well, technically it was back in July, but this is the first show I have been to since two years ago or so… with the shows being cancelled due to COVID-19.
And, while day one was a fabulous day of walking around the fields, and reconnecting with old friends. The show wasn’t what it used to be, with a sincere lack of dealers in many of the fields. This is not to say there weren’t plenty of dealers there, and there were a few bits to be found here and there, but some of the fields that might have been populated with 400 dealers in years previous might have had perhaps 50.
The buyers were ready to buy, but alas…
I have no doubt this is a result of the pandemic, and word on the street that Hertan’s, which opens tomorrow, has no space left and is filled with dealers. This could be a result of new ownership, and her ability to promote promote promote.
Still, a great day, and as it happened, RL planned to come to the show as well. So, staying at the same hotel, we drove in together, and as it was his first ever Brimfield show, I filled him in on where to start, and what times the additional fields opened.
And, over the course of the day we would meet up, walk together, sometimes hunt together, and sometimes retrace one or another’s steps, after discussing this piece or that piece that we saw along our hunt.
Of course, Brimfield is filled with non-corkscrew treasures!
And, what about corkscrews Josef?
We each managed to find a few, but nothing outstanding.
My best find wasn’t a corkscrew, but instead a Minerva Tastevin in Silver.
It was sitting in a dealer’s case, when I spotted it, When I inquired as to the price, he said, “5 dollars.”
Having not seen any markings, I assumed it was silver-plate. Still, at 5 dollars, why not.
After showing I to RL, when we met up at the next field, he was convinced it was Silver. And, after meeting up with a Silver dealer 15 minutes later, it was confirmed.
There was a Zig-Zag in its box, Williamson Bottle with ad plate, a Williamson champagne tap also in its box, and a nice little Sterling Nifty marked E R A; a couple of T-pulls also found their way into my bag, a couple of wall-mount openers destined for the JFO in two weeks, and a Peugeot Freres figural pepper mill.
That said, it was only the first day, and we head back this morning for day two. We will only do the first two fields, as RL has to head out, and I have to hit the road to make it back home tonight, but you never know what will turn up.
Of course, we had to end day one with the tradition of going to The Student Prince and dine amongst their corkscrew collection.
The other day, the aforementioned little birdie corkscrew arrived on the island. And, it is pretty darn cool.
The Sterling end cap, is marked STERLING and also with the JH mark for John Hasselbring, and there is a monogram present as well–of course you can see the Sterling rivets as well.
I was a bit worried about the tip of the worm, but as it turns out, it is all there.
And, the carving of the hawk (I am guessing a hawk, but definitely some sort of bird of prey) is just fantastic.
About a week ago, there was an interesting carved tusk corkscrew on eBay.
It was listed at 19.99, and as is often the case, a buy it now option was added. Undoubtedly, at a collector’s request.
With a very fair price of 65 dollars, it was snapped up immediately.
Not by me.
Now, whether it was seller’s regret, or whether the seller was informed that they undersold, the same corkscrew was re-listed at a higher price, but with a best offer option.
I offered…
And, a deal was struck.
Better photos, and any markings will be shared when it arrives.
A few years ago, I mulled the idea of getting a tattoo of a corkscrew, and at the time a few collectors weighed in with their suggestions.
There is particular tattoo artist whose work I really like here in Maine, and she has a waiting list. In fact, she is so in demand, that she only opens her books for appointments. And, with COVID over the last year and a half, tattooing hasn’t been happening much.
Over the last week or so, she announced that she was again taking clients. That said, the subject matter needs to meet her style. And, I have no doubt that she thought that a vintage corkscrew was not only cool, but does mirror her stylings.
So, we put in a tattoo request, and a few days ago got the following response:
“Hello Josef!
Thank you for submitting a request form to schedule a tattoo appointment with me.
The piece you’ve inquired about; Vintage corkscrew ( ____________ patent) on right inner forearm, about 4″ x 6″ in size will take me an estimated 3 hours to complete.
My first available date is….”
Of course, the type of patent wasn’t left blank in the email, but it could make for a fun round of guessing…
Feel free to make a guess.
Of course, in two months the truth will reveal itself.
The accompanying illustration represents a corkscrew which is put on market by W. B. Woodman & Co., Newark, N. J. The corkscrew is in the usual way turned into the cork until the swivel passes over the cork and rests atop the bottle. Then the ring at the upper end of the corkscrew is to be lifted off the hook on the handle, when the handle, again turned as before, no longer drives the screw into the cork, but lifts the screw, and with it the cork, and thus withdraws the cork from the bottle.
A New Corkscrew
The central wire, it will thus be seen, after it is inserted in the cork, remains without turning, and the cork, it is claimed is drawn without difficulty. The manufacturers allude to the facility with which the operation is performed, and the resulting advantage.
When found, the Woodman’s is marked across the handle WOODMAN’S PATENT and with the patent date of PAT’D JAN.Y 6.1886.
It should be noted, that Woodman’s patent was awarded on June, 29 1886 (patent number 344,556).
Wm. R. Clough, Alton, N. H., proprietor of the Rockwell Clough Company, is offering the solid handle steel cork screw illustrated herewith. Under Mr. Clough’s former patents wood handle wire cork screws were made on hand machines, and the handles were made in two pieces and glued together, being more expensive and less reliable than the one shown here, which has a solid handle and is made automatically.
A bundle of wire is placed on a reel, the wiregoes in one end of the machine and the handle at the other. Meeting they are formed into a cork screw ready for market at one stroke. A patent has been applied for the present design.
