The Virtual Corkscrew Museum's Weekly Newspaper

License Plates

Wirtz, Virginia - In the April 9 issue, we asked readers to submit photos of their corkscrew related license plates. The old Bull Virginia license plate was CORKSCW. Son Michael Bull often asked "Dad, what's a Corks Cow? The current Bull Virginia license plate is CORKSCR.

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Birthplace of Aviation

Dover, Ohio - Bill Murphy reports "Here are a couple of pictures of my Ohio vanity plates. I have been collecting corkscrews for approximately two years and my collection now totals almost 200. When I showed my wife Elizabeth the CORKSCW plate for sale on eBay, little did I know that it would provide an inspiration to her for a present for me on my 58th birthday on March 24. The plates are now proudly displayed on my Honda Civic, which is my work car."

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Oklahoma OK

Tulsa, Oklahoma - Before relocating to Nevada, Larry Gralla's car sported a CRKSCRW license plate.

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Nevada Silver

Reno, Nevada - When Larry Gralla relocated to the Silver State, he adorned his car with a CRKSCRW license plate. Now his Beamer has an even fancier CRKSCRW (photo below).

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Travels to Tennessee

Cookeville, Tennessee - The Weekly Screw editor travelled to Nashville for the 28th annual Just for Openers convention (more on that in the next issue). A pleasant break in the trip was an April 20 stop at the Cookeville home of Tom and Tricia Lawrence for corkscrew viewing, a glass of wine, and a fabulous lunch. The super collection of corkscrews was displayed in special built wall hanging cabinets, antique cabinets, and whereever the plentiful collection could find some extra space.

Left: Don Bull; Right: Tom Lawrence

When it was time to depart, Tom insisted on one last stop - a visit to the carport to see:

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Openers in Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee - This license was spotted in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn in Nashville where the JFO convention was held. Ben Hoffman is the proud owner.

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Claremont Openers

Sierra Madre, California - Mike Sharp reports "I purchased this roughly cast metal car club plaque early this year. The seller founded this car club while in high school in 1953. He stated that the club name was taken from their two favorite tools, tools they seemed to be using a lot. There were many such car clubs in Southern California in the 1950s that displayed their shared / common interest with plaques like this in their car back windows. As you can imagine I was quite excited to find the plaque and then to talk the owner into selling it."

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Clough License?

Ontario, Canada - Ron MacLean reports "Unfortunately I do not have a custom corkscrew license plate but about a kilometre away from home I recently I spotted this wonderful plate. To have the government issue me with a plate with the famous initials WRC of William Rockwell Clough, Alton, New Hampshire (a manufacturer of over a billion wire corkscrews) would be terrific, some people have all the luck!"

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My Favorite Screw

Bangkok, Thailand - Reader Alf Erickson reports "Maybe in my old age I am becoming 'new fashioned'. Now I really like this very compact machine. It is called the Brucart Pulltex and it works on the same car jack principle that was pioneered by the Puigpull. As the years advance I'll probably grow into screwcaps. Sad, isn't it? Maybe not."

Editor's Note: Franmara describes this corkscrews with "This compact corkscrew is a unique extracting system. Place the unit over the bottle. Turn the entire unit clockwise to insert into the cork. The axis in the center rises to act as an indicator to tell you when the cork is fully inserted. Pull the 2-1/2" lever arm away from the body to activate an eleven-step ratchet and spring loaded arm to extract the cork. Works similar to a carjack. Teflon® coated spiral, stainless steel blade."

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The Comics

Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson ... Submitted by Philly Rains

Submitted by Jack Bandy

The Chatelaine - A really useful present
Laura: Oh, look ma' dear; See what a love of a chatelaine Edward has given me!

Submitted by Ron MacLean

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Corkscrews Mystery

Wirtz, Virginia - Does anyone have any information on this corkscrew or any similar examples? Age? Manufacturer? Catalog pages? Other details?

A flynut corkscrew marked BELLSCREW on one side of the handle and W G C on the other. Weights 13 ounces (365 grams). The handle width is 3 1/2". The diameter of the bottom of the bell is 1 5/8".

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