“simple and powerful implement for extracting corks…”

From the September 4th, 1869 issue of Scientific American

Improved Cork Extractor.

Our engraving shows a simple and powerful implement for extracting corks from bottles, patented Jan. 14, 1868, by James Morton, of Philadelphia. It consists of three bars pivoted together, which, together with the corkscrew, constitute the entire apparatus. One of the bars has a socket or cap at its lower end, which is placed on and around the neck of the bottle. Near the upper end of this first post or bar is pivoted the end of the second bar, near the middle of which the third bar is pivoted. The second and third bars have handles at their outer ends, and at the inner end of their third bar is a hook.

This hook engages with the corkscrew in the manner delineated in the engraving, and by forcing the handles together or pressing them downward, the cork can be easily extracted. The instrument is equally adapted to extracting corks on which rings or hooks are already formed so that no corkscrew is needed.

For further particulars address James Morton, 912 South Eighth street, Philadelphia, Pa

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479 knives with corkscrews

The Collectorcorkcrews.com auction site has quite the knife auction going on right now.  479 knives from the Don Bull collection.

Be sure to check it out here!

Bid High and Bid Often!

a few arrivals, and looking ahead…

Over the last few days, there have been a few corkscrew arrivals in the post office box.  And, while I was quite pleased to have the Gold Knight and Olympic opener show up, much of our time these days are focused on our upcoming ICCA and CCCC meetings, and we are excited to host all of you.

Both the Gold Knight and the Olympic opener didn’t disappoint.   In fact, both are in better condition than expected.  The Opener with corkscrew will find its way into the collection, and the Knight will be put up as trade bait, as it is indeed a double, or if you are keeping track of previous knights, and octuple; as this is the eighth one that I have found.

As far as the meetings, we are putting finalized details on reservations, looking at side trips, and finalizing menus and wine lists.  We are looking forward to sharing our little part of the world with all of the attendees, and are really excited to host all of you at our home on the island.

$87.99 buy it now, or best offer

Everyone likes a deal.

And, there are times when sellers of antique corkscrews put a price on a corkscrew without knowing the real value of the corkscrew that they are selling.  And, there are other times when those putting antique corkscrews up for sale, do a bit of research, to find out what the current market value is.

The other day it was the former, rather than the latter.

I was in between writing beer and wine orders, and decided to take a glance at eBay.

And, what was the first listing that came up but a Syroco Knight with a buy it now with a best offer option.

The buy it now price was an unbelievable deal at $87.99; but it had a best offer option…

Best offer?

Should I???

I fought every fiber of my being to try to get it for less, and clicked the buy it now button.

Promptly paying, the deal was done.

The goods are attractive in appearance and are made as either right or left hand, as desired.

August 20, 1898 issue of Metal Worker:

POCKET CORK SCREW No. 21

Erie Specialty Company, Erie, Pa., are putting on the market the pocket cork screw herewith shown. The points of excellence enumerated by the manufacturers include the following: That the screws are made of steel and finely tempered, highly polished and nickeled: that they will draw any cork, and that they are strong and durable. In Fig. 2 the cork screw is shown in the shape for carrying in the pocket, being compact and taking but little room. The goods are attractive in appearance and are made as either right or left hand, as desired.

As we know, this is Walker’s 1898 patent (# 611,046) for his peg and worm.

Although the patent drawing is more reflective of the advertising version that sometimes turns up.

Interestingly, of the two Walker peg and worms in our collection, one is right hand and one is left hand…

Frame with Slidable Tool Bit

On January 9, 1947, Richard Itaru Nakamura filed a patent application for his Frame with Slidable Tool Bit.  After a lengthy wait, his patent was finally approved on June 20, 1950.

Several years ago, I remember John Morris presenting a show and tell at one of the ICCA meetings, and sharing the story about this multi-tool with a corkscrew.   I have been on a hunt for this ever since.

This morning, over a cup of coffee, I happened to find a random eBay lot that, amongst several other corkscrews, had the Nakamura patent.

When I first looked at the picture, I thought.  “What is that odd opener, I know I have seen it somewhere.”

After a bit of searching, and knowing that Tommy had found one a while back, I went back through his blog of the time, and found the photo.

Definitely looks like the same Frame with Slidable Tool Bit to me.

A really neat, and hard to find, American patent, that will soon be headed to the island–along with all the other corkscrews in the lot.

Best 6 candidate?  Indeed!

 

Halfway through 2018…

Well, it is mid-June, and the tourist season is kicking off in Maine.  The island’s population is slowing growing, but by the beginning of July it will be booming.  It is great to have old friends returning, and it seems like each day, there are more summer folk, and day trippers, arriving on the ferry.

Of course, it is around this time of year that plans for the ICCA and CCCC AGM’s get finalized.  This year, we are hosting both clubs, and we are excited to share Maine with all the attendees, but moreover, to host those that are attending on the island we call home.

 

And, given that we are halfway through 2018, I was thinking about the best 6 corkscrews thus far for 2018.  While corkscrew news has been a little slow as of the last couple of weeks, it has been a pretty good year so far in acquiring those twisted treasures we covet.

Some of the corkscrews uncovered this year have already been moved on to other collectors, but here is what my best 6 would be, should we have to make a decision at this very moment:

Van Zandt, Sterling Napier Hollweg, Silver Syroco Knight, Rees Patent, Brown Patent, Monfort Patent…

I did pick up a Jenner patent as mentioned in a past blog, but given it is missing a portion, it is more of a place holder waiting for a complete example.

Of course, we still have half a year to go, and you never know what might turn up next.

The hunt will continue, and we look forward to seeing all of you in Maine.

A Combination Cork Screw, Bottle Opener, and Mechanical Pencil

From the September 11, 1943 issue of, The Billboard”

3-IN-1 EVER-READY MECH. PENCILS

A Combination Cork Screw, Bottle Opener and Mechanical Pencil—Attractively Mounted on Handsome Easel-Back Counter Display Card—12 Pencils to the Card.

With a shortage of Cork Screws and Bottle Openers, you’ll find this 3-in-1 Pencil an especially fast seller. Attractive in color effect, well made, with repelling and expelling lead pencil action. Big retail value at $1.00. Card mounting boosts sales action Everybody buys!

WHILE THEY LAST
$5.40 PER DOZ. $63.00 PER GROSS

Enclose 25% deposit—balance O. O. D., F. O. B. Chicago

 

Of course, we knew the Ever-Ready 3-in-1, as the 1938 Ruby patent…

another lot

The other day, a small lot of corkscrews was listed on eBay with a new (and improved) option that eBay has apparently implemented.  Instead of a Buy it Now or Best Offer, there is now an option of bidding or making an offer.

When the lot came up, I saw the opening bid, and offered for a little more than half on this particular lot.  And, the seller responded a few hours later, rejecting said offer.  Figuring, I needed a Walker Peg and Worm–one of the corkscrews in the lot–I upped my offer to his opening bid.  Doing so, didn’t win the lot.  It merely stayed there still up for bid.

This morning, the seller countered my offer, but the price was still fair, and a deal was agreed upon.

There were no details given about the lot; whether the roundlet is sterling, the Williamson bottle roundlet is Sterling or has advertising, if the Clough has advertising, or if the Converse has advertising on it’s sheath, but it was the peg and worm that I really wanted.

Of course, what I really need is a spare peg for a Walker Peg and Worm, as I have an interesting advertising version of the Walker lacking it’s peg.

Not a super rare addition to the collection, and it is the change in eBay’s approach that more interesting here.  Will more sellers start to take offers on what would be auctions?

taking a chance on a lot

The other day, a lot of openers with a few corkscrews was put up with a buy it now on eBay.  The price, wasn’t cheap, but it wasn’t crazy money either.

Within the lot was several advertising corkscrews, a peg and worm, an interesting looking roundlet, and a piece that looked like a Jenner patent missing a few of its appendages.

I thought about it briefly, and figured, I might as well go for it.

The lot arrived yesterday in the mail, and there were some interesting pieces within the lot.  The Jenner, is indeed a Jenner with the 1871 patent date, but missing a few bits.  And, the peg and worm is interesting as it has its leather case.  My favorite piece, however is the roundlet.   It is the smallest roundlet I have ever seen, and it signed F & B Sterling.

Had the Jenner been complete, it would have been the star.  But for now, it will be a place holder until a complete one turns up.

Was the lot worth the price of admission?  Definitely worth it.  That said, if anyone out there has a complete 1871 Jenner patent, I am on the hunt for one.  Feel free to drop me a line.  Heck, if you have a complete one that is has a broken worm, I would be interested : )