The Virtual Corkscrew Museum's Weekly Newspaper


Sunday, July 6 , 2008

Number 524

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Corkscrew Whistles - Buyer Beware

Did they really make so many corkscrews combined with whistles in Argentina? Why are so many cropping up at online auction now? Because people are paying a lot for them? Is it whistle collectors? Or is it corkscrew collectors? They often read "This original and unique piece comes from an Estate in Buenos Aires". And you will usually find "User ID kept private". That makes us skeptical!

Wow! How about this one? Described as "Very nice and rare multi tool case with coekscrew [sic] and whistle very good conditions. In work order. This multi tool instrument was made for use of the Argentine army officer."

This one has this description "Vintage railroad railway whiste with corkscrew. The sound it´s very clear and loud. The corkscrew system works perfectly."

The bird corkscrew with whistle sheath is described as "Rare Argentine figural corkscrew whistle. It shows the following legend: Industria Argentina and dedication: Al Coronoel de Marina Cordero Bartolome L. Jefe de la Premera Division Puerto Deseado 1930.

And how about those corkscrews with whistles from Hungary? Some of the copy for the one below reads " Up for auction is Antique No Mark Whistle Corkscrew Train Waiter's. This super rare corkscrew-whistle train personnel tool is about 15 cm long. "

And what did the same seller offer last week using the same description? He sold the one pictured below for $202.49 to a corkscrew collector!

Another Hungarian offers the "corkscrew - whistle" below with this description "Up for auction is Vintage Brass Police Whistle Corkscrew This nice and rare corkscrew is about 2.25 inches long total." (note how the written copy is very similar to the other seller above).

The Converse Corkscrew Whistle mentioned in last week's issue got a high bid of $389.99. The reserve was not met. Avner Strauss tells us the first one of these he saw offered sold for $642.00.

Reader Andre Burgos wrote "It seems you only have to whistle to catch a few eager undiscerning corkscrew collectors ... or are they whistle collectors?"

Ok, readers, enough about corkscrew whistles. This will be our last look at these things. Are there estates in Argentina and Hungary full of them waiting to be pulled out of drawers and boxes to be sold on the Internet? Are they for real? You be the judge!

And what happens to these and so many other suspect corkscrews coming out of Argentina and Hungary (and California!) when they hit the aftermarket next month, next year, or years from now?



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©2008 Don Bull, Editor

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