The Virtual Corkscrew Museum's Weekly Newspaper

Parr's Patent

This advertisement appeared in several 1861 - 1862 issues of the Daily Zanesville Courier (Ohio). The contents of the case are (1) Tea Caddy, (1) Drinking Cup, (1) Cruet stand to contain Pepper, Mustard Salt, Vinegar, Cork Screw and Mustard Spoon, (1) Knife, Fork and Spoon, (1) Tea or Coffee Pot with Strainer, and (1) Apparatus to contain sufficient fuel to cook from 15 to 20 meals in 2 1/2" to 3 minutes each meal. The case measured 6" x 4" x 4". It was waterproof and weighed 2 3/4 pounds. It was sold by E. E. Fillmore in Zanesville.

Aha! A Corkscrew! After seeing the advertisement we search Google Patents and there we found Parr's U. S. Patent Number 32643. The Buffalo, New York toolmaker granted the patent on June 25, 1861 two months after the start of the Civil War. He wrote that he "invented certain new and useful Improvements in Camp-Chests and Appurtenances for Soldiers." His patent is much larger in scope than the canteen case in the Fillmore advertisement. The chest includes a foldable table, camp stools, a kettle, a frying pan, a wash bowl, and many other items. Also listed in the chest is a canteen case which Fillmore opted to offer. In his patent, Parr details the items listed above including the "cork screw".

Drawings page 1 from Parr's Patent

Drawings page 2 from Parr's Patent

19th Century Canteen Set (not Parr's Patent)

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Airplanes and Corkscrews

After we published the "Automobiles and Corkscrews" in the July 20 issue, we received several photos from readers and showed these in a follow-up issue (more below). We are working on "Airplanes and Corkscrews" and would like to get them all in one issue. If you have any corkscrews advertising airline companies, in the form of airplanes, or depicting an airplane, please submit photos. Email large "raw" photos as taken without editing or adjusting.

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Automobiles and Corkscrews Follow-up

Left: James Zalaznik's Cadillac corkscrew with his car (wood sleeve not shown) Right: Fiat picnic corkscrew submitted by Marcello Rossani (Italy).

Toyota lever submitted by Al Haché (Canada)

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Williamson and Walker Advertising

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The Corkscrew - Where is it?

Do you know where this is?

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