SCReW Classes

by | Aug 30, 2017 | Classification, Resources | 0 comments

SCReWBase
A collectors’ guide for categorizing and coding their corkscrews.

Developed by Frank Ellis, Fred Kincaid, Fred O’Leary and Joe Paradi, plus the Classmasters in charge of each Class

Background

SCReWbase©, the Standard Corkscrew Reference Work, is a database for cataloguing all significant corkscrews. A SCReWcode is applied to each item whether it be a simple straight pull or a elaborate patent. This code allows rational ordering within the database and a means of searching.

The system developed for SCReW is of use to all collectors whether they use SCReWbase© or not. The basic Class, Type and style code can be used in many ways. This document is for all collectors and shows how to derive these basic 3 letter codes e.g. ABc. Use them or customize them at will.  This system is now available on a CDROM and can be acquired from the website for corkscrew collectors here

Within SCReW, all corkscrews and associated collectibles are organized into 13 Classes, each designated by the initial letter of the Class (except one). Ten of the Classes are specifically for corkscrews. The full SCReWcode is in the form ABc123 representing the Class, Type and style as letters followed by a three-digit number assigned to keep similar things together in series. Types and styles mostly have easy to remember letters (in English)

Code

 Class

Contents

A

 Accessories

Collectibles and “go-withs” which are not actually corkscrews but which we all seem to acquire

B

 Bar screws

Mechanical corkscrews that are designed to be fixed to a wall or a bar

C

 Combinations

Corkscrews with a tool or a design having one or more secondary functions

E

 Easers

Corkscrews designed to ease the adhesion of the cork before pulling it out with a direct pull

F

 Figurals

Corkscrews in which the whole item, or a significant part of it, represents a tangible object

K

 Knives

Knives (folding or fixed blade) with a folding corkscrew

L

 Levers

Corkscrews that have a mechanical action through the use of a simple lever and fulcrum

M

 Mechanical

Corkscrews which have a mechanical feature using a thread, ratchet or rack and pinion action

N

 Non-worm extractor

Cork removers that do not have helical worms

P

 Pocket and Protected

Corkscrews in which the worm is covered or otherwise protected for safety or travel

S

 Self pullers and partial pullers

Corkscrews based on the principle that continuous turning of the worm draws the cork up the helix

T

 T-screws and other straight pulls

Corkscrew with no mechanical features and no other tools

Z

 Champagne and soda tools

Tools for opening or tapping sparkling drinks bottles

First use the Decision Tree to select the right Class.  Click here for it. 

Next decide the Type and style using the following guides.

Class A – Accessories

Types Examples styles
A ART Paintings, photos, posters
Sculptures, frames
music, video, rugs

i
s
u

 images
sculptures
unclassified
B BOTTLES & JUGS Codd bottles, jugs, stone bottles u unclassified
C CORK TOOLS Borers
Cutters, presses, sizers
Corking tools		 b
c
t		 borers
cork presses
tools for corking
D DISHES & TABLEWARE Plates, bowls, glasses, mugs d dishes and tableware
N NOVELTY Hats, neckties, shirts, socks, towels
Ashtrays, glass, mugs, plates, trays
Charms, ear rings, pins, tie clasps

Buttons, matchbooks, refrigerator magnets

 f

h

j

u

 fabrics

household

jewellery

unclassified
P PAPER & PRINTED MATERIAL Advertisements
Post cards
Books, catalogues
Letters, Menus, napkins, photos (non-art)		 a
p
r
u		 advertisements
post cards
reference material
unclassified
S SCREW TOOLS
(not for corks)		 Bung pullers, gun tools, packing tools, tie downs u unclassified
W WINE ACCESSORIES Bottle locks, cradles, coasters, funnels, labels, pourers, port tongs, stoppers, tastevins u unclassified
U UNCLASSIFIED u unclassified

Class B – Bar screws

There are no specific Types and styles for bar screws.

The codes in SCReWbase are designed to be consistent with Wayne Meadows’ book and you can translate the SCReWcode into Wayne’s book code, and vice versa. The Type is the initial letter of the name of the bar screw (ignoring “The”). The style is a lowercase letter that replaces a digit in Wayne’s code. For example:

SCReW code BEo112 translates to Wayne’s E01.1.2 (the Eclipse) and BMo221 translates to M02.2.1 (the Merritt).

The styles are derived as follows: 0 = o; 1 = i; 2 = z; 9 = g

For use outside SCReWbase it is suggested that you use the format:

Class – B;
Type – the initial letter of the marked name (ignoring “The”); for unmarked bar screws Type X could be used.
style – x (not designated)

Class C – Combinations

This is a very complex Class of corkscrews. The SCReWcode depends upon the tools that are present. The Types and styles are applied in alphabetical ordergoing down the following list (except that U is always considered after W). It is possible to have a code CCc but not CLc (it should be CCl).

Type; style

 Description

B; b

 Blade or spike on the end of a T handle

C; c

 Can opener (includes blade and slotted sardine versions)

E; e

 Eating implement – knife, fork or spoon from canteen or campaign sets
(but not medicine or cocktail spoons)

F; f

 Funnel (all wine funnels)

G; g

 Glass cutter wheel

I; i

 Ice pick/hammer/chopper

J; j

 Jigger

K; k

 Knife sharpener – “wheels” and steels (including picnic type)

L; l

 cap Lifter

M; m

 Marble pusher for Codd bottles

P; p

 can Piercer (triangular blade with lever action)

S; s

 Spoon – medicine or cocktail (not an eating spoon from a canteen set)

U; u

 Unclassified (none of the others)

W; w

 Wall mounted cap lifter (Wall mounts (Brown type))

x

 no other tool (styles only – it is not possible to have Type X)

There is a potential overlap of Combinations with Figurals, Knives, Pocket & Protected and T-straight pulls. Follow the SCReW Decision Tree to identify the right Class. But generally:-

  • Anything that has Figural characteristics will usually be found in Class F;
  • Folding or fixed blade knives with corkscrews are in Class K – except where there is a significant tool extending beyond the main body of the knife – these are in Class C;
  • Multi-tool folding bows & multi-tool cased roundlets are in PB and PR. But many sheathed corkscrews with significant tools on the head or sheath will be found in Class C – if in doubt check in PO, PP, PT;
  • Straight pulls with tools on the handle or shank are in Class C (a brush is NOT considered as a tool). But tools on the handles of Easers (Henshall types etc) ARE coded as Class E

Class E – Easers

Types

 Examples styles; button material for EB; handle, shank or size for EC, ED, ES, EU

B

Buttons

 Henshall types, fat thick buttons

a

b
c

i
m
o

p
s
t

u
w
x

 – animal material (antler, bone, ivory, horn, tortoise-shell, tusk)
– brass, bronze
– composition (celluloid, catalin, plastic, bakelite, ceramic)
– iron or steel (ferrous metals)
– miniature
– other metal (pewter, aluminum, white metal)
– mother of pearl
– silver, gold
– twisted wire (buttons must have more than one complete turn in the wire spiral, if not they are coded as T)
– unclassified material (glass, agate)
– wood
– not designated

C

Claws

 Claws or grippers at the base of shank; Gamble’s Lever, Viarengo

D

Double helix

 ALL double helix; Barnes, Williamson, Wilson, Magic Twist

S

Spikes

 Maud (but not Jones I & II – see Mechanicals)

U

Unclassified

Class F – Figurals

Types Examples styles
A AQUATIC Fish, alligator, seal, seahorse, serpent, sea shell, turtle etc.

b

c

f

h

p

s

t

u

 – brass British flat back or hollow back (sometimes 2 sided)

– combination – separate parts fit together to form a whole figure

– free standing (with a fixed worm)

– hinged worm (takes precedence over other styles)

– plain sheath with a figural insert

– sheathed figural – the corkscrew is not part of the figure

– straight pull (T) – fixed worm, no sheath

– unclassified
B BIRDS  
C CATS  
D DOGS  
E EXTREMITIES OF PEOPLE, EROTIC Hands, feet & other body parts – excluding heads
F FARM ANIMALS Bull, cow, donkey, horse, mouse, pig, rabbit, squirrel
G GUNS & WEAPONS  
H HEADS OF PEOPLE Head, or head & shoulders
I INSECTS & PESTS Insects & other household pests (spider, snail, etc.)
K KEYS Keys, letter openers
L LIFESTYLE Banners, bottles, clothing, corks, drinking, flags, gambling, golf, hockey, medallions, music, smoking, sports
O OTHER WORLDLY Bacchus, cherub, devil, dragons, gnome, pixie, Popeye, satyr, sci-fi, skull, snowman
P PEOPLE – WHOLE  
R REAL ESTATE All buildings
S SYROCO All Syroco pieces
T TRANSPORTATION By land, sea and air; cars, motorcycles, horse & rider, ships, anchors etc.
U UNCLASSIFIED Bells, numbers, letters
V VINE & VEGETABLE Vegetable, vine, grapes, fruit, flower, things that grow in the ground
W WILD ANIMALS Bear, boar, buck, elephant, fox, monkey, mountain goat, tortoise, zebra

Class K – Knives with corkscrews

Types Comments styles
B BOTTLE Bottle shaped scales

a

b

c

d

i

o

p

s

u

w

x

 – animal material scales (antler, bone, ivory, horn, tortoise-shell, tusk)

– brass, bronze scales

– composition scales (celluloid, catalin, plastic, bakelite, ceramic)

– decorative (inc. specific advertising designs)

– iron, steel scales (ferrous metals)

– other metal scales (pewter, aluminum, white metal)

– mother of pearl scales

– silver, gold scales

– unclassified material scales (glass, agate)

– wood scales

– not designated
C CAP LIFTER or CARTRIDGE EXTRACTOR Tool is integral with main body (tools that extend well beyond the main body are in Class C)
E EATING IMPLEMENTS Folding knife with fork and/or spoon on same item – includes sets that slot together
F FIGURE SHAPED Figure shaped scales
H HORSEMAN’S Hoof pick folding over the body
L LEGS/LAGUIOLE  
P POCKET CLASSIC  
S STRAIGHT BLADE Fixed blade – dagger
U UNCLASSIFIED  
W WATTS’ PATENT TYPE Spring loaded arm that acts as a handle for nippers etc.
X EXTENDED CORKSCREWS A design that allows the worm to be longer than normal – Paffrath, Hammesfahr, Williams (Kastor), Steinfeld, Müller

Class L – Levers

Types Description styles & examples

C

COMPOUND

 Compound levers have several attached lever arms e

s

z

 – eight arms – Ideal, Perfect, Polichinelle Rapid, Yprim
– six arms – Armstrong, Debouchtout, Peerless, Perfect, Pullezi, Reliable,
– ten (zehn) arms – Éclair, Kis-ply, Souplex, Tric Trac, Yprim, Zig Zag, double & normal Wier

D

DOUBLE

 Double levers have two lever arms c
f

p

r

 – cam – Baker
– figural – Anna G, Sommelier, clown, girl, waiter
– pivot – A1, Empire, Goliath, Gropelli,  Vogliotti
– rack – Cudzikowski, Campagnolo, Eterno, Magic Lever, Murray & Stalker

L

LUND TYPE

 These have an upper single lever arm and a static lower arm j
t		 – joined – Dordet, Hampton
– two-piece – BB, Coney, Lund and derivatives, Tangent

S

SINGLE

 Single levers have one lever arm c

p

r

 – cam – Francois, Rasch, Royal Club, Russel
– pivot – Bechon Morel, Burgess & Fenton, L’ Express, Le Presto, Noyes, Sperry, Subito, Tucker
– rack – Hipkins, Le Parfait, Puigpull, Roussau, Traifor

W

WAITER’S FRIEND

 Waiter’s friends are a sub-group of the single levers. The fulcrum post fits snugly over the worm. Figural ones are included here. b
f
i
l
o
u		 – brass, bronze scales
– figure shaped scales
– iron & steel scales
– left handed worm
– other material scales
– unclassified

Class M – Mechanical

Types Examples

styles

C

 CRAB PIECE Shaft joined to handle and threaded to crab piece or clutch; Brown, Fischer, Twigg & Bateman, The King, L’Extract

b

c

f

h

o

s

w

x

– barrel

– collar, cone, bell

– frame (fixed)

– hinged frame

– open frame (no bottom ring)

– spring barrel/frame

– window barrel

– not designated

F

 FREE FLY NUT Shaft joined to handle and threaded to fly nut; Aero, Victor, Hélice variants, etc.

I

 INTERLOCKING SHAFTS & SNAIL FACE Inner shaft rises after interlocking with outer shaft – includes snail faces: Diamant, Alvord and Brown, Twigg & Bateman, Kummer

K

 KINGS SCREW Narrow rack, wide rack; Kummer

L

 LOCKING HANDLE Shaft threaded to handle which has a locking device; Bateman, Bodega, Ehrhardt, Gounevitch, Kampf, Shrapnel, Twigg, Voigt, Woodman, Wulfruna

P

 PERPETUAL Cotterill, many German frame & barrel versions, DICO

R

 RACK London Rack, Perille, JB, Korkmaster, many German & Italian versions

S

 SWIVEL LOCK Shaft is threaded to handle & has a swivel over locking top; Bague, Challenge, Korkmaster Jr., Williamson Burgundy

T

 THOMASON Thomason patent I, II, IV, VI-XVI), French spring barrel, VULCAN

V

 VARIANTS Thomason Variants (Patent III), Thomason Serpent (Patent V)

D

 DIRECT PRESSURE Hull Presto, Van Gieson (& frame), Qvarnstrom (Sloor)

x

– not designated

G

 GRINDER – COFFEE Mostly Italian, Perille

N

 NECK, THREADED Threaded shank acts through a threaded neck:
Left hand thread – Williamson Power Screw, Mabson, G. Karl;
Right hand thread – L’Excelsior, Coney, many English 2 pillars;
Two handles – Club, Valezina

l

r

t

x

– left hand threaded shank

– right hand threaded shank

– two handles

– not designated

W

 WING NUT – FIXED Threaded shank, wing nut fixed to frame; Farrow & Jackson, Perille’s Hélice, many Italians

U

 UNCLASSIFIED Phillips electric;
Uses fluid or gas to pump up the shaft & lift it, Artmer CO2;
Jacks; Fortunato
Ratchets: Dixon, Newton;
Telescopic, Walton’s windlass;
Unclassified – Dupuis, Kemper, Syme, Jones I & II

e
g
j
m
p
u
x

– electric
– gas, hydraulic
– jack
– mechanical ratchet
– pulley, windlass
– unclassified
– not designated

Class N – Non-worm extractors

Types Examples styles

H

 HOOK Inserted between the bottle and cork – then turned to engage the cork before pulling


b
m
h
t
e

 In priority order
– bow
– multi-barb
– handle with added tool
– tooth (upward spike)
– ear (flat top)

I

INJECTION

 Inserts a needle through the cork and pressurizing the space between the liquid and the cork

a
c

 – air pump
– CO2 cartridge

P

PRONGS

 Inserted between the cork and bottle. By turning slightly most corks can be eased out of the bottle


b
s
f
h
j

 In priority order
– bow
– separate parts
– folding
– handle with added tool
– joined (two prongs fixed to a handle – no tool)

R

RETRIEVERS

 Used to recover loose corks from the body of the bottle

g
m
t

 – gripper
– multi-barb
– tooth

S

SPIKE

 Some partially piercing the cork and need a twist or others that go all the way through.

x

 not designated, e.g. Call, Korn, U-NEEK

U

UNCLASSIFIED

x

 Mestre II

Class P – Pocket and Protected

Types Examples styles

B

 BOWS & HARPS Worm folds out for action from protective “bow” to 180º

a

b
c

i
l
m
o

p
s
t
u

w
x

 – animal material (antler, bone, ivory, horn, tortoise-shell, tusk)
– brass, bronze
– composition (celluloid, catalin, plastic, bakelite, ceramic)
– iron, steel (ferrous metals)
– left handed
– miniature, mid size
– other metal (pewter, aluminum, white metal)
– mother of pearl
– silver, gold
– twisted wire
– unclassified material (agate, glass, rubber)
– wood
– not designated

C

 CANES & WALKING STICKS

F

 FOLDING Protective “arms” (plain, animal legs, shoes), clam shell/pea-pod, champagne wire cutter “scissors”, barrel with double folding worm

H

 HOLLWEG TYPE

L

 LEGS & PEOPLE (FOLDING) Ladies’ legs, Amor

O

 “O” HOLE FINGER PULL & SHEATH One or more finger holes in handle

P

 PICNICS The sheath fits snugly into the head to form a T handle

R

 ROUNDLETS Normal roundlets & cased multi-tool sets

T

 “T” HANDLE & SHEATH Includes many Dutch silver corkscrews (including figural handles)

W

 PEG & WORM

U

 UNCLASSIFIED

Class S – Self pullers and partial pullers

Types

Description & examples

styles
A ALL SCREW The frame remains stationary while the cork works up the worm until it is clear of the bottle; e.g. Screwpull

b

c

f

h

o

s

w

u

x

 – barrel

– cup/cone/bell (partial puller)

– frame – joined at bottom

– hinged frame – sides or bottom pivot

– open frame – not joined at bottom

– spring barrel

– window barrel

– unclassified

– not designated
F FREE – SLIDE & ROTATE The frame or barrel is free to ride up and down the shaft and rotate at the same time; e.g. Chinnock.
L LIMITED MOVEMENT; LOCK, RELEASE, STOP
or
LOCKING MECHANISM		 The range of movement on the shaft is limited by the presence of a stop mechanism (e.g. Curley); or it has a locking mechanism for releasing the shank to remove the cork (e.g. many German frames)
N NO MOVING PARTS No internal movement of any part of the corkscrew; e.g. Bennit
R ROTATE ONLY – NO UP/DOWN MOTION Typically the American bell. It can turn but not rise or fall; e.g. Walker & Williamson
S SPRING TENSION, ROTATE

(Type L takes priority)

 An internal spring or spring-over-shaft provides lift as it becomes compressed; e.g. Hercules
U UNCLASSIFIED

Class T – T-Screws and other straight pulls

Types Comments styles
D DECORATIVE Takes priority over all but Lever Hole

a

b
c

i
l
m
o

p
s
t
u
w
x

 – animal material (antler, bone, ivory, horn, tortoise-shell, tusk)
– brass, bronze
– composition (celluloid, catalin, plastic, bakelite, ceramic)
– iron, steel (ferrous metals)
– left handed
– miniature (optional use)
– other metal (pewter, aluminum, white metal)
– mother of pearl
– silver, gold
– twisted wire
– unclassified (glass, agate)
– wood
– not designated
E EYEBROW  
L LEVER HOLE Takes priority over all other Types
M MEDICINE, PERFUME Excludes vertical handles which are TV
O “O”-HOLE, FINGER PULL Includes D-shaped cap lifter handles
S SETS CONTAINING T-SHAPE STRAIGHT PULLS Includes only traditional Ts in sets; Bonsa type tool sets
T T-SHAPED STRAIGHT PULLS All standard plain straight pulls – may have advertising
U UNCLASSIFIED  
V VERTICAL HANDLE & NECESSAIRES  

Class Z – Champagne & soda taps (ZD, ZL, ZP, ZT) + related tools

Types Comments styles
D DROP POINT The point is put into the end of the pipe & used to penetrate the cork. The point drops into the bottle & is recovered later l

m

n

w

x

 – long tap (for ZL)

– medium length tap (for ZL)

– no worm on stem/shaft

– worm on stem/shaft

– not designated
L LONG TAP  
P PIPES Tubes with a fixed point; with or without a worm on the shaft
T TROCAR Pointed wire down the inside of the pipe; with or without a worm on the shaft
C CORK REPLACER Used for stoppering an opened bottle; may have a tap u

x

 – unclassified

– not designated
E EASER Pushed under the cork to lever it out
G GRIPPER Grips the cork to twist it out
K KNIVES Without corkscrews
U UNCLASSIFIED  
W WIRE CLIPPER Without corkscrews p
s
x		 – pliers
– scissors
– not designated