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Prohibition and Corkscrews

The18th amendment to the United States Constitution

became law January 17, 1920. It became known as the

―

National Prohibition Act

‖

.

Section 1. After one year from the ratification of

this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation

of intoxicating liquors within, the importation

thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the

United States and all territory subject to the

jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is

hereby prohibited.

Section 2. The Congress and the several states

shall have concurrent power to enforce this article

by appropriate legislation.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it

shall have been ratified as an amendment to the

Constitution by the legislatures of the several

states, as provided in the Constitution, within

seven years from the date of the submission

hereof to the states by the Congress.

The 18th Amendment was repealed and alcohol began to flow again on April 7, 1933.

During those years, numerous references to corkscrews appeared in the media.

Corkscrews as Hair Pins

From the January 31, 1919

Oakland Tribune

(California): The

Kansas City Star

suggests

that corkscrews be straightened out and used for hair pins.

―

Nonsense ... Better save

them for posterity, to be exhibited 100 years hence as relics of an almost unforgotten

day when great great grandfather used to operate one.

―

Corkscrew to Button Hooks

From the February 10, 1919 edition of the Alton, Illinois

Evening Telegraph

:

―

It is said

that after July 1, all corkscrews in the country will be converted into shoe buttoners, and

shoe buttoners will have about as little work to do as corkscrews after awhile,

apparently.‖

Corkscrews to Gimlets

From the February 22, 1991 edition of the Woodland, California

Daily Democrat

:

―

The

cork screw manufacturer has been hit hard by the National Prohibition amendment,

unless cork screws

can be converted into gimlets.‖