Miniature antique Apothecary folding Corkscrew. Circa 1880

Miniature antique Apothecary folding Corkscrew. Circa 1880

Size: 5 cm L closed, 8 cm  L with screw extended.

This small corkscrew was used to remove corks from medicine and perfume bottles.

Medicine and perfume bottles used corks until the early 20th century.

The corkscrew is made of nickel plated steel, the bow/loop is a spring that keeps tension on the corkscrew when the corkscrew is folded out or in and is locked into place with notches at the pivot point. The screw is referred to as a worm design with sharp edged blades that cut through the cork with ease.

History,

The bottle stopper was not invented until 1892 by the Crown Cork Co. of Baltimore. Before the stopper was introduced, almost all bottles had corks in them, including medicine, perfume and alcohol bottles. The corkscrew was invented around the 18th century and is still in use today.