On the left is the design patent drawing (#D 87,644) for a Republican elephant bottle cap lifter by the American Kurt Rettich, issued August 23, 1932.
In the middle is a photo of Rettich’s design-patented cap lifter.
On the right is an elephant corkscrew marked [wHw, HAGENAUER WIEN]. A nickel plated version was also found bearing identical marks.
You might well wonder how is it possible for a USA design-patented cap lifter to turn up as a Hagenauer marked corkscrew. It looks like it would be pretty easy. Just make two wax models of the cap lifter, stick the two of them together, and spread the hind legs. Cast in brass; mark as required; insert worm, and sell.
These elephants are the source of what we call “guaranteed fake” [wHw] marks, which have served to discredit many more figural corkscrews bearing matching marks.
In the middle is a photo of Rettich’s design-patented cap lifter.
On the right is an elephant corkscrew marked [wHw, HAGENAUER WIEN]. A nickel plated version was also found bearing identical marks.
You might well wonder how is it possible for a USA design-patented cap lifter to turn up as a Hagenauer marked corkscrew. It looks like it would be pretty easy. Just make two wax models of the cap lifter, stick the two of them together, and spread the hind legs. Cast in brass; mark as required; insert worm, and sell.
These elephants are the source of what we call “guaranteed fake” [wHw] marks, which have served to discredit many more figural corkscrews bearing matching marks.
