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Taiwan

One of the products sold by Franmara Company,

California in the 1980s was the Corkex manufactured

in Switzerland by Ammer. When the Swiss ceased

production in the late 1980s, owner Frank Chiorazzi

needed to look for an alternative. He had new

tooling made in Taiwan and the product is now

produced there.

The packaging was redesigned and a spring was added

so the handle would come up automatically after

each stroke. When asked about this change, Frank

replied:

"When we re-did the Corkex, the factory insisted

that the spring back action was a needed

improvement. I fought them at first because the sales

were OK with the original non-spring back version. But they continued and then I gave

in."

In 2001 the new Corkex could be found for sale on the Internet with prices ranging

from $11 to $26.

________________

A 2001 bar set including a

silver colored Taiwanese

Corky is available for

DM129,00 and is described

as "Wein-Set Burgund 4-

teilig, attraktive Holzkasette,

Vakuum-Korkenheber,

Kapselschneider,

Tropfenfang, Flaschen-

Verschluß" (Attractive wood

case, cork remover, foil

cutter, pour collar, and

bottle stopper).