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Columbus Corkscrews

Several patents were issued for a corkscrew with spring assist and split frame with

movable ring for removing the cork from the worm. The most well known is Eduard

Becker's German patent 70,879 of March 7, 1893. On August 29, 1892 he obtained a

registration for the name

―

Columbus

‖

(just in time for Chicago's Columbian

Exposition!). In 1908 and 1910 Gustav Twellsiek registered his designs in Germany

made with tin frames. In 1949 Carl Breithoff added an Indian rubber cushion on the

bottle collar and obtained a German registration. A metal handle example with ball

bearings was a 1909 registration by G. Usbeck.

Pictured below are various Columbus types. The aforementioned patent and

registrations are present in this group. Most are pinned in the middle of the handle and

those pinned from the end or from the top (unusual) are noted. There are different

colors as well as different materials including bamboo, horn, and metal handles. Details

below the photos are from left to right.

Bamboo handle. Not marked.

Horn handle. Marked COLUMBUS / FRÜHER PATENT 70879