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.  

https://collection.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/co48945/pair-of-shade-ring-pincers-by-millington-and-mille

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.