5
Introduction
In
The University of California / Sotheby Book of California Wine
, published in 1984,
Brother Timothy Diener writes
“
A long-term favorite is a two handled corkscrew
that seems to be a distant relative of the Thomason. A smaller, upper handle
inserts the screw into the cork; a larger handle, fastened to a threaded shaft,
which turns inside the threaded top of the bell, pulls the cork when rotated. The
working parts, except for the steel screw, may be made of wood, metal, horn, or
other materials.
”
Brother Timothy of The Christian Brothers in Napa Valley, California, was
describing the type of corkscrew which will be examined in detail in this study.
The corkscrew is often referred to as a
“
Club
”
or
“
Bistro
”
type and sometimes by
the brand name
“
Copex.
”
On the next page are two examples advertising The
Christian Brothers. The corkscrew on the left was produced in France and the
plastic corkscrew on the right was produced in England.
