63

Switzerland

As discussed in the introduction, the idea of the self-contained

cork ejector appears to have originated in Switzerland with Pius

Hasler's 1918 invention (left).

On July 5, 1963 René Besançon from Bienne applied for a patent

on a device bearing some resemblance to the Hasler design.

Besançon was granted Swiss Patent No. 390,072 on March 31,

1965, nearly a half century after Hasler's invention. The Besançon

invention was manufactured as the "Bouchonette" with the top of

the handle marked "Made in Switzerland, Brevet Depose."