Corkscrew

Object Name:

Corkscrew

Object ID:

1976.026.07

Creator:

Clough Wire Cork Screw CompanyManufacturer

Place of Origin:

Alton, NH

Date:

1890-1900

Description:

Corkscrews, 36 pieces. Description of a few representative pieces:
Steel corkscrew, bent wire. 2.7" high, 1" wide, 0.5" depth. 0.9" diameter wire used to form pointed, spiral corkscrew with single finger loop at top. Loop terminates in several concentric turns of wire to create flat surface about 0.50" diameter. Separate, polished steel tube with slightly rounded bottom: 0.3" diameter, 1.6" long and has wall thickness of 0.008". Approximately 17 of these items. One has no case. One has odd brass-like case. Four have double-wire loop at top. One example has inscription on case: "CORKSCREW PATS NO 337309441137". Further around "HAIL COLUMBIA ....& MACONNELL NEW YORK." Has "1892" near the last. Further around case: "CHICAGO 1893".
Another similar case: "CLOUGH MACONNELL NEW YORK", plus rest of numbers and also additional "1492". Couple with plain cases, split sides and no ends. One without case.

Two examples of single loop wire corkscrew. One is 1.4" long, loop 0.7" diameter, wire 0.5" diameter. Weight: 0.53 ounces.

Three examples of small folding corkscrew that are between 1" and 1.4" long. Made from strip of steel that is bent into a loop. Ends of strip are rounded and riveted together on top of each other. Between loop is small, wire corkscrew that pivots on the rivet. Metal strip 0.2" wide approximately, wire 0.35" diameter. Outside of strip colored green. Printed oval near rivet: "JAMES M -- MACONNELL / NEW YORK". Around loop in larger text: "SCOTTS EMULSION". At other end of strip in another oval with 3 lines of text: "PATENT / JULY 22-84 / MADE IN U. S. A. ". Rivet has brass finish but it is not brass. Another similar one with red colored strip and smaller one with tan colored strip of metal which reads near rivet: "JULY / 22, 84. CACTUS BALM." At far end by rivet: "CLOUGH'S / PAT".

One example of corkscrew affixed via rivet to painted steel disc, 0.8" diameter approximately. Overall length: 1.4". Wire diameter: 0.5". On one side disc tan background. Four blue-green, concentric rings around outside edge. They encircle a clock face with Roman numerals. Numerals use 4 "iiii" for number 4 and "Viii" for number 8. Below the 12 is: "CLOUGH'S" curved to fit space. Below it: "PATENT". Below central rivet and above lower portion of dial: "MEDICINE DIAL." Just above that, adjacent to rivet: "FOR". On opposite side is red background with concentric gold stripes around edge. Circle with star in it, background straight gold lines that parallel edges of 5-pointed star and form circle. In an open red space is gold text around star circle: "CLOUGH C & CO NY".

Two larger, all-wired corkscrews that use same twisted steel wire to create corkscrew and flat, wire shape at top end. One of these has flattened horizontal loop at top of the two twisted-wire stem. Loop 0.6" high, 2.8" wide, wire diameter: 0.1". Weight: 0.7 ounces.

Another larger corkscrew with 0.1" wire that has two fingerloops side-by-side at top of stem which is above flat wire disc and the spiral corkscrew. Fingerloops 1" diameter. Weighs 1 ounce.

Single corkscrew with bulbous handle with long stem. Wire corkscrew inserted through hole in handle and stops just before top end where there is small hole. Wire brad that passes through corkscrew wire near top of handle. Brad sticks out slightly on both sides of handle.

Three corkscrews with wooden handles and single, similar handle without wire. Wooden handles are about 4" wide, overall length in 4" range. Three handles have slender, bulbous mid-section with rounded bulbous ends. A fourth wooden handle corkscrew has round center section with two truncated cones flaring out from center.

Three corkscrews with simple wooden handles that are cylinders with rounded ends. Handles are about 3.5" long. Wire for corkscrew about: 0.1" diameter. Wire wraps around wood and there is double helix stem that becomes single wire that is expanded to create screw. Two of them have text on them to advertise "Rockwell Clough Companies" from Alton, NH. Third example undecorated.

Three examples of wire corkscrew with double-wire loop which terminates in flat, wrap wire disc. Below disc is wire screw. Two of these are in wooden cases that are cylindrical with rounded ends. Corkscrews stuck inside cases. One case advertises for "Clough Cork Screw Company".

Wooden cover 2.15" long, diameter: 0.45". Wood light tan. Printed on outside: "CLOUGH / CORKSCREW COMPANY / ALTON, N.H.". "SOLID STEEL / ADVERTISING CORKSCREW, / Patents, No. 337, 809 & 441, 137."

Wooden cover: 2.3" long, diameter 0.5". Light tan wood. Written on side in fancy script: "AMERICUS CLUB. / (plain script.) "WHISKEY. / HENRY CAMPE & CO. / San Francisco, Cull." In opposite direction: "J. P. DECKER, SUN FRANKING, CULL. PAT. COT. 19, 1860."

Corkscrew and cap together. Cap length: 2.4", diameter: 0.5. Light tan wood. "COMPLIMENTS OF / HAYNOR, / DISTILLERS, / DAYTON, --OHIO, / AND / ST. LOUIS, --MO.. Next line reversed: "PATENTED OCT. 16, 1900."
Cap only: 2.3" long, 0.5" diameter. Light tan wood. Text: "Rockwell=Clough Co. / Alton, N. H. --U.S.A. / CLOUGH'S PATENT, 337, 909 / THE CLOUGH CORKSCREW WAS THE / FIRST WIRE CORKSCREW AND THE / ORIGIN OF ALL THE PATENT MEDIA- / CINE SCREWS NOW SEEN BY THE / MILLION ALL OVER THE WORLD."

Material:

Metal
Wood
Steel

Credit Line:

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Poch

Subjects:

Corkscrews