Millington and Miller’s 1905 UK Patent, no. 10680
$99.99
Millington and Miller’s 1905 UK Patent, no. 10680
Dimensions
8.5
Circa
1905
Country of manufacture
UK and Ireland
Description
Since the London Science Museum has one in their collection we assume that this device can be legitimately listed on Fleaglass. Actually, it has an interesting back story.
What you see here is Millington and Miller’s 1905 UK Patent, no. 10680, for a “Shade Ring Pincers” (aka “Light Socket Changer”). Length: 8.5″ or 21.25 cm. Ho, hum, one more “shade ring pincers” you say but wait… More than one punter has paid very good money, 200 pounds and more, for one of these when it was sold as “champagne cork remover”, which it most certainly was not patented as. Now, could it be used as a champagne cork remover? The jury appears to be out on this question, but corkscrew collectors have directed a lot of righteous indignation (much huffing and puffing and finger pointing) at those who have dared to sell it as cork remover. As patent originalists we are offering it as a very nice shade ring pincers with with good marking on the handle. It is marked “MILLINGTON & MILLER’S PATENT No 106080 1905” We’ll leave questions of off-label use to others.
Ask the Dealer
Dealer information
M and R Gordon
Michael and Roberta Gordon have been dealing in medical and dental antiques for more than four decades. They have helped build a number of major private collections and have contributed to the holdings of many museums. They also deal in other scientific and technology related items, including calculating instruments, office machines, patent models and wine-related accessories such as corkscrews. ROBERTA GORDON IS A SKILLED RESTORER WHO CAN HELP YOU WITH ANY INSTRUMENTS AND CASES THAT NEED ATTENTION. Feel free to contact them for details at: [email protected] or 718-541-5974
