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The testers found that the air and gas pressure cork extractors were the easiest

and most comfortable to work - although nearly all were a little nervous about

using them.

Of this group the Sparklets Corkmaster (gas) was the most liked, followed

closely by the Corkette (air). The Corky, with its sideways pumping action, was

the least popular. You had to get to know the Sparklets Corkmaster. If you let

too much gas into the bottle, the cork might pop out very quickly and wine spurt

over you. With split or leaky corks, the pressure extractors were not very

successful - the air or gas leaked out.

There have been accidents with pressure cork extractors. But, provided you

follow the instructions carefully and use them to open standard, cylindrical

bottles only, no mishaps should occur.

As an added precaution, you should wrap a napkin around the whole bottle, just

in case there is a flaw which might make it shatter. The Sparklets Corkmaster,

Corkette and Corky all gave ample instructions about this. The Prestige Cork

Boy gave the bare minimum of instructions, and gave no warning at all on

precautionary measures.

And in answering "Which type to buy?," they concluded:

If you want to take all the effort out of drawing corks, then the Sparklets

Corkmaster (£1 5s 5d) is the answer. It was the most popular of all the models

we tested [including corkscrews]. But it is expensive and it has limitations - odd

shaped bottles and leaky corks for example.

Promotional Self-Praise

In selling their products, manufacturers often went beyond

the call to promote themselves.

"A marvel of ingenious American design…foolproof,

leakproof, completely dependable…get the cork out

WHOLE, no shreds, no spillage"…Cork Pops

"The choice of wine stewards"…Cork Out

"Remove corks with the ease and grace of a

sommelie

r"…eject

-a-cork

"The fastest and easiest way to open a bottle of

wine"…Cork Popper Quick, Easy & Irresistible"…Pop A

Cork