~
Newton
Ratchet
found
at the
tip ~
Study the above photograph. What do you think, worth a bid of bid £1.99?

During June 2004, this corkscrew was listed on Ebay UK with a starting price of
£1.99. For two days it was bidless & then disapeared without trace.

This is a great story about Debbie & her Newton Ratchet.....
I received an email on 25th June as follows:

Hi Peter,

I don't know if you can or want to help but I've got a corkscrew and I
put it on Ebay last night with a start of £1.99.

I have since had 2 seperate ebayers email me one offering £55 and
another £70.

Makes me think "what the hell have I got that people are willing to pay
that kind of money" after just seeing a rather fuzzy digi pic.

Can you help me identify this corkscrew?

I've attached the fuzzy pic and my ebay description:-

Old wooden handled corkscrew.  Dark wood - mahogony?? 3.25 inches
wide - brush is missing, Long brass 'collar' just over 2.25 inches - states
PATENT.  Appears to be spring loaded - you can push the corkscrew up
into the collar.  The actual screw section is quite wide and open.  (I know
what I mean!!) This section is black colour and appears to be in fantastic
condition.

Sorry about the picture.  Please email me if you need better pictures
and I will try and borrow a decent camera.

If you can help that would be fantastic.  If not then no worries and
just to let you know the web site is great!!

Thanks for reading this

Debbie
Debbie's fuzzy digital
A photo taken from the Christie's
corkscrew auction catalogue 20th,
May 2003 with Christie's estimate
of £7,500 - £8,500. The
corkscrew reached £4,800 before
the bidding stopped......WOW
DEBBIE YOU'VE STRUCK GOLD!!
I replied the same night & miss-informed Debbie as I thought it was a Van Gieson, a similar type corkscrew worth
around £1500 - £2000 but not as rare & desirable as a Newton & I said that I thought it was probably damaged,
whoops! wrong again. Anyway, I suggested that Debbie should take it off Ebay & hang on to it, seeing as it
looked as though it might be slipping through & would not reach it's true potential in price.

It also turned out that Debbie's husband had found this corkscrew at the local tip where he worked, how great is
that, Just fantastic.

Debbie ended the auction & decided she'd hang onto it for the time being.


31st March 2005
Debbie lists the corkscrew on Ebay

After some clearer picture were posted & with some questions from some experienced corkscrew collectors it
turned out that Debbie had a Newton ratchet corkscrew which was is in good mechanical order.

It sold for
£1801.00
Well, they do say "One mans rubbish is another mans gold"

I'm disapointed for Debbie, on another day it could & should of made plenty more. Nevertheless, to find it at the
local tip for nothing & then to make £1801 is just fabulous.

Congratulations Debbie  
setstats
Peter@corkscrewsonline.com