75
A Clergyman Invents a Corkscrew
This article appeared in
Albany Argus
(New York) in 1896.
The article describes John Henry Cluever's U. S. Patent
Number 344,566 issued June 29, 1886.
The Rt. Rev. Mgr. Cluever, pastor of our Lady Help
Christians [St. Mary's Help of Christians], has invented an
automatic corkscrew, which is destined to become very
popular. The invention is a simple one, and it is a wonder it
was not thought of long ago. The corkscrew proper is
concealed within a tube, and is operated with a bar or
handle, the same as on an ordinary corkscrew. To this
handle is a spiral, which, as the corkscrew is operated,
winds itself into the covering tube, the same as a hose
coupling is made. On either side of the tube is a little clamp,
operated by a spring, and in the interior is another spring,
which is easily screwed down as the corkscrew is turned.
The mouth of the tube, which covers the corkscrew, is
placed over the neck of the bottle from which the cork is to
be drawn. The screw is turned into the cork, and the interior
spring, which is very powerful, is pressed downward at the same time. When the screw
is properly through the cork the side clamps are lightly pressed, the spring is released,
and out comes the cork as neatly as could be wished.
Rev. Cluever took
charge of St. Mary's
Help of Christian
Church in Albany,
New York on
December 8, 1883.
Prior to that Cluever
had been at St. Joseph's
Roman Catholic
Church and through
his efforts the new St.
Joseph's Church was
begun on July 29, 1877.
