Although most of us have a corkscrew in the kitchen, we remain largely unaware of the many different types and designs of corkscrews that have been developed over the last three hundred years. Since the eighteenth century, inventors have devised increasingly ingenious methods of removing corks from bottles of wine, beer, champagne, perfume and medicine, using the laws of physics, the skills of mechanical engineering, the science of new materials and the artistic aspects of design. This book reveals the diverse and amazing corkscrews that have been created over the years and aims to spur the reader on to collecting these fascinating and useful items. Written with the beginner in mind, the book starts with the most basic corkscrews and works through the different types, explaining the mechanisms that pull out the cork. Examples given include the more common easily-found pieces, but also the rarer pieces the collector can aspire to. Information on patents and registered designs is provided, together with examples and details of modifications and variation. Featuring . Design features . Corkscrew terminology . Recognising patents and registered designs . Understanding the SCRewBase cataloguing system . Corkscrews from around the world AUTHOR Frank Ellis developed a passion for corkscrews almost by chance when buying an antique corkscrew as a gift for a friend. Subsequently he became a frequent visitor to antique fairs and auctions, and built up an extensive collection. As a scientist, he was always interested in working out how the mechanisms worked. He was very enthusiastic and passionate about corkscrews and wrote numerous articles in collector club magazines. Sadly, Frank passed away in 2008 and this book was completed by his widow Barbara Ellis with the help of other close friends and corkscrew experts. ILLUSTRATIONS 436 Colour photos