7
Only one test chart was presented and it gave the Copex the highest ranking for
the greatest gripping power stated in pounds. From this study, Copex concluded
and published on their instruction sheet
“
In competition with eighteen other
corkscrews of foreign and domestic manufacture, the Copex outperformed all
others receiving the highest recommendation.
”
No such recommendation was
made.
In 1967, Almaden Vineyard
‟
s
News from the Vineyards
edited by wine expert
Frank Schoonmaker published an article entitled
“
The Reluctant Cork.
”
The
writer debunks the 1946 tests because the tests were performed on dry corks
driven into empty bottles. Nine corkscrews were reviewed including an open
frame with rollover handle, a Clough wire with button, a waiter
‟
s friend, a Swiss
Corky, a Zig Zag, a double lever, a Maxram double helix, a cork pops, and a club
type. Recommendations were made in four categories:
For hard to pull corks, the club type was rated 3rd behind the Maxram
and Cork Pops.
For long, possible friable corks in old bottles, the club type was second to
Cork Pops.
For use by women, the club type was second to Cork Pops.
Only the Maxram, Waiter
‟
s Friend and Cork Pops were recommended for
pocket corkscrews.
In December, 1968, the English publication
Which?
asked
“
This month 50 million
corks will be drawn, will they come cleanly? Or will it be a savage struggle? Only
the corkscrew can tell.
”
They gave twenty cork removers to 25 men and had
them open 500 bottles. They referred to the club type as
“
double reverse thread
”
or
“
butterfly
”
corkscrews. The Valezina and an unbranded boxwood example
were included in the test.
The winners in the test were the Sparklets Corkmaster, Corkette, Corky and
Prestige Cork Boy - all air and gas injection types. The club type followed as
