| A new corkscrew purchased in Paris in a Kitchenware Shop for FF140
(US$24.77). An extremely well made (Made in Taiwan!) open frame corkscrew with
teflon fine helix and spring assist on shaft in top of barrel. I was surprised
by the quality and by the low price. |
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| More new corkscrews. The Brabantia Screwpull knock-off was purchased in
Avignon for FF59 (US$10.44). The waiter's friend is quality stainless corkscrew
marked with advertising for the Musée du Tire Bouchon. It was purchased
at the museum with the excellent prong puller made by L'esprit & Levin in
France and the bottle / magnet at bottom center. The bottle has the label of
Yves' winery "Domaine de la Citadelle." The other bottle magnet was
purchased in Paris. The silver direct pull was a gift to all ICCA members and
features a Cicada, a symbol of Provence, on the handle |
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| In the ICCA auction, I battled for and won the brass cat with stand; the
bow marked DRGM; the Columbus Waiter's Friend celebrating the 135th year (1948)
of the Joh. Koch company in Westerstede, Germany; and the Muller 1896 Patent
knives. The "Korkenzieher" is marked Ostfriesen which is an German
area of people who are the butt of many jokes including the turnless corkscrew.
I got that without a battle! I like corkscrews in original boxes or packaging -
the ROWOCO pocket corkscrew was a nice addition to that part of my collection.
The brass Pixie direct pull was a gift from friend and addict Jack Bandy. |
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| Also won at auction were the silver plated keys from Bremen (left) and
Petrus (right); and the open frame with signs of the Zodiac. The golf ball has
a worm inside and is used to cap a bottle when the cork is extracted. On
October 5, the group made a morning trip to the market at L'Isle sur la Sorgue
where it seemed that one dealer had the market cornered and, therefore, our
attention. I purchased the Eterno
Double Lever
from him. This is Ettore Cardini's 1945 Italian Patent. Unlike the one in my
1996 Best
Six it has most of it's nickel plating and in addition to the ETERNO mark
says BREV CARDINI OMEGNA. |
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| When we were checking in at American Airlines in Paris to fly home, the
attendant asked us if we had any electrical appliances in our luggage. Bonnie
replied that she had a hair dryer. I replied to an incredulous attendant that I
had an electric corkscrew. Disbelieving she said "Sure you do!" and
gave us our boarding passes. At home I already had a 110 Volt version marked
NORELCO (right). At the auction I completed my set by winning the 220 Volt
version marked PHILIPS - and in the original box! These were made in 1976 and
they do work. |
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| Last year I managed to outbid
Luterman
for the Stopper Extractor described on webpage
"An Unusual
Find". This year Luterman gave up earlier on this more recent version
which is marked CREDO. In addition to the stopper extractor, it has a cap
lifter, corkscrew and P-38 type Can Opener. The waiter's friend below it and
the can opener also carry the CREDO mark. The can opener with stopper extractor
at bottom is marked SESAM. |
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| After lunch in Avignon Joe and Monika Paradi, Howard Luterman, Ron MacLean
and I went off on a quest for new interesting corkscrews in the shopping
district. We came to a cutlery shop where Joe and Ron both bought knives with
corkscrews on them. When I saw a Victorinox display on the store wall, I asked
the shopkeeper for a price. He immediately responded that it was not for sale.
After some reflection, he disappeared to the back room and returned with a
similar somewhat dusty display board which was missing a scissor backspring and
the knife scale. He sold it to me...to my surprise and glee...cheap. |
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| The last corkscrew from the trip to France was made by ICCA member Jens
Arnbjerg from Denmark. Jens is a veterinarian and the handle is from a part of
a Great Dane. It makes the ladies blush (well - some of them, maybe). |
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