For Pockets and Picnics

Danbury, Connecticut, June 27, 1939 - "Remover for Bottle Closures" is the title of Knud Knudsen's new U. S. Patent Number 2,164,191. When Knud dreamed up his invention three years ago, he had "simple, inexpensive, compact, and efficient" on his list of priorities. His opener is designed with simplicity in mind - the cap lifter and sheath are on one piece and the worm is protected by a ribbed sheath made of three parts. When the sheath is on a crown cap can be removed using the bottom of the "S" curve top. To use the implement to extract corks, just remove the worm and slip is through the top of the "S" for a direct pull "T" handle corkscrew.

The patent has been assigned to Danbury-Knudsen, a Connecticut corporation. Knudsen has high expectations for the opener and he writes about manufacturing goals "...individual parts of speedy and inexpensive manufacture and in which the assembly is simple and inexpensive."

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For Corks of All Sizes

Brooklyn, New York, June 27, 1876 - Joshua Barnes has been granted United States Patent Number 179,090 for his "Improvement in Corkscrews." It is a well-known that there are a great variety of cork sizes in bottles. Wines and beers are sealed with a fairly large cork compared to those use for medicines, inks, perfumes, and the like. Barnes idea is to make on device that can pull a variety of cork sizes. To accomplish this he suggests two pieces of wire mounted in his handle. The longer piece has a longer , slender spiral for pulling small corks. The shorter wire is larger and more stout for pulling larger corks. In removing larger corks, the smaller wire is inserted and turned into the cork and when the second wire is reached, the user continues to turn it until seated far enough for a healthy pull.

Barnes leaves his patent open to an even greater number of spirals by including in his claim "...with two or more coils or spirals..."

Wirtz, Virginia, June 27, 2003 - Collectors may find Barnes patented corkscrew with one of the spirals broken off as they were not very strong. But Barnes also produced the corkscrew with one single spiral as shown in the introductory photo. Even though his patent was for more than one spiral, the handle still carried the patent date stamp:

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Viktoria

Solingen, Germany, June 27, 1892 - Edward Müller been assigned German Registration Number 6050. He is manufacturing the corkscrew in Solingen and marketing it under the name "Viktoria."

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Letters to the Editor

The discussion of the past few days continues:

Can you open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew?

Norrtelje, Sweden - I have with great interest been following the discussions about how to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew. My question is: what kind of guy would leave home without it? I, myself, who can't see a new model of pocket corkscrew without buying it, have one in every jacket, suitcase, bag, backpack or basket, in the car and the boat, because "you never know when you'll be needing one." Many regards,

Roland Brodin

Editor: Thank you for a very good reminder for everyone, Roland - "Don't leave home without it!"

Getting into the church without a church key

Hamilton, New Jersey - I don't know if others reported this, but I remember reading in a wine book somewhere sometime that in lieu of a corkscrew, one takes a heavy knife and strikes the lip of the top the bottle with the back edge of the knife. This is supposed to severe the bottle cleanly at that point of the neck, and impress the heck out of your dinner guests. I must admit, I have never been brave enough to try it.

Ishai Nir

More from Alf

Fort Lauderdale, Florida - WOW! Major coverage of my little handiwork! Seriously, I do not think that no matter how long or hard you 'bang the bung' the cork will ever come out. Hey, just try sticking your finger in a water filled wine bottle and whack it against a tree...there is no great pressure in there that is yearning to get out. But, a makeshift 'bottle irons' might be made with household pliers and a charcoal picnic fire....and a cube of ice.

Alf Erickson

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Gone Fishin'

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