180

(7207087), Switzerland (572442), and the United States (3815448). Mister Maximum

was sold in twenty-four countries. Wholesalers, importers, big catalogs, and individuals

clamored for the product. In the United States, Fortunoff in New York City took out

huge advertisements in the newspapers offering Mister Maximum for $20.00. The

biggest dealer in Germany, Eilers-Werke, put it on the front cover of their 1973

publication announcing it as "

Der Korkenzieher des Jahrhunderts

" (Corkscrew of the

Century). The plastic Mister Maximum was produced in several colors including orange,

black, burgundy, and yellow. In 1973 the Association

of Austrian Inventors awarded a Gold Medal to

Artmer for his invention.

In reflecting upon the period, nearly 30 years after

his product was first produced, Artmer said, "I was

no producer, I was an importer. I had the general

agency for Corkmaster in Austria and I also

imported the air-pressure Corky from Switzerland.

But I complained about the faults in these products.

Needles weren't protected if the cap was lost and

needles were hard

to insert. So they

told me to come up

with a better idea

and I made the

Gero [Cork Up] from 1966 to 1971. But I always

dreamed of the best corkscrew without faults."

In the first year of production, he sold 240,000 pieces of

the Mister Maximum. By 1975, Artmer felt "It was clear

that the item would die in a short time. Mister Maximum

was the first 100% safe CO2 pressure item. But the

CO2 cartridge ejectors had received some bad press

and people were afraid of the 'bomb'. They thought

bottles would explode. In 1976 I stopped production. I

had sold nearly 400,000 pieces yet I never in my life

wanted to produce any item!"