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 The Colorful History of the Corkscrew
The following article is reprinted with copyright permission from Bull’s Pocket Guide to Corkscrews. The author Don Bull, is a world renown corkscrew expert, and author of several books on the subject. You can learn more about Don and his huge collection, in his corkscrew museum.
Although various references to the worme, scrue, and cork-drawer appear in 17th century literature, no one knows when the first corkscrew appeared. One of the most likely theories is that the idea came from a worm on a ramrod or cleaning rod used to draw wadding from a gun barrel. A lithograph entitled "Cork Extractors" was included in a c.1880 book The Growth of Industrial Art. The lithograph by Sackett & Wilhelms Litho Company of New York takes a rather humorous look at the evolution of the corkscrew. In nine steps it shows breaking off the bottle neck, pulling a protruding cork with teeth, lifting the cork with a nail, using two forks and, finally, five different styles of corkscrews. The bottom line, however, is that the first corkscrew, no doubt, was a rather simple device with a wood handle and a pointed and curled piece of steel. The steel was turned into the cork and brute force was used to lift the cork.
The earliest patent issued for a corkscrew was granted in 1795 in England to the Reverend Samuel Henshall. He attached a metal button between the shank and the worm. When the worm penetrated the cork, the button would contact the top, and by continuing to turn the handle, the adhesion between the cork and the bottle neck would be broken. The cork could then be easily lifted. Since then, thousands of worldwide patents have been issued to inventors seeking a better method to extract corks including improved buttons, ratchets, springs, prongs, clutches, levers, and even Teflon coated worms. Other inventors included a corkscrew as an accessory on multipurpose tools including knives, can openers, wrenches, jar openers, bottle cap lifters, and champagne cork grips. In design patents figures of devils, bums, pigs, parrots, and owls can be found.
The myriad of corkscrew inventions gave rise to the curious habit of corkscrew collecting. Thousands of corkscrew addicts around the globe now compete for patented and unpatented corkscrews. In 1974 several collectors from both sides of the Atlantic banded together to form the International Correspondence of Corkscrew Addicts, a group which is today limited to fifty members. Their interest was to share knowledge of corkscrew finds through annual dissemination to other members of a photo of their six best finds together with knowledge of the artifact. To date members search desperately for those corkscrews for their six best in hopes that other collectors will exclaim about at least one "I’ve never seen that one before!" Another group, the Canadian Corkscrew Collectors Club, now has over 300 members worldwide. Smaller organizations have been founded in France, Germany, Italy, and Scandinavia.
Where does the collector find corkscrews?
Many collectors will say that the "supplies are drying up" or "there are none to be found in my area." Caution - that could be a ploy to keep you out of the flea markets and antique shows in their territory! In fact as the interest grows, more and more corkscrews are coming out of attics and closets to turn up for sale. At the same time, prices are escalating but with some perseverance bargains can still be found. The most diligent addicts may have a bit of luck in finding an inexpensive rarity by trekking through their local Saturday morning garage, tag, or rummage sales.
The competition for corkscrews has brought on the age of the corkscrew specialist. No longer able to build a collection of all great corkscrews, the collector resorts to picking up everything in sight in hopes that he will find "another man’s treasure" and can trade for a particular type of corkscrew. Some collect only mechanical corkscrews. Others take an interest in corkscrew canes, figurals, advertising, silver, gold, folding bows, roundlets, waiter’s friends, or even modern plastic corkscrews.
The popularity of the corkscrew collectible is witnessed by the growing number of books published on the subject, articles in journals, and a large number of internet web sites dedicated to corkscrews. A search of the word "corkscrew" on the very active "ebay" auction web site, will turn up more than one hundred corkscrews on any given day. Although the majority are fairly common varieties, the increased interest and bidding activity is now inviting collectors and dealers to put up some of the rarer types for auction. An English Hull’s Royal Club brought $3500 while a current Warner Brothers Bugs Bunny Double Lever corkscrew sold for $37. A search of the word "corkscrew" on some internet search engines can turn up over 10,000 references. Alas, one must weed out the corkscrew pasta, roller coasters, race tracks, and corkscrew swamps. Searching foreign translations such as Korkenzieher, Cavatappi, Tire Bouchon, and Sacacorchos will reveal scores of additional web sites. Many of the searches will find companies offering modern double levers, waiter’s friends, figural, novelty, and simple corkscrews for sale.
For the truly addicted corkscrew collector, Christie’s of London has semi-annual auctions with hundreds of lots of corkscrews from the common (box lots) to the exceptionally rare. In May of 1997 a record high price of £18400 was realized for an 18th century English silver pocket corkscrew. A rare 1860 Philos Blake American patent sold for £9775 at Christie’s April 1998 auction. In that well attended auction, over 442 lots were offered with a variety of corkscrews to suit any interest.
What does one do with collected corkscrews?
Many collectors enjoy showing off their finest by opening a fine bottle of wine for a visiting friend. But only the bravest will use the rarities which if broken, will lose considerable value. One must always bear in mind that many corkscrews were not designed to remove a tight cork from a bottle of wine. In fact, before crown caps, popping lids, and twist off caps, corkscrews were commonly used for opening bottles of beer, perfume, horse liniment, ink, medicine, cleaners, and pickles!
What is the best way to find antique corkscrews?
In Corkscrews, Mel Reichler and Jim Egan state "Corkscrews are lost point down and found point up." So start poking around in antique shops - the corkscrews will find you!
Corkscrews and Wine Gift Ideas
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