Thursday, February 25, 2016

Campagnolo - The "Big" Corkscrew - Veneto

Sometimes, BIGGER is better.  Over 2 pounds of pure Italian style from Campagnola, a high-end bicycle manufacturer (later automobile compents - Ferrari, Maserati, etc. and later still - satellite components) founded in 1933 by Tullio Campagnola.  A life-long inventor, Tullio holds over 135 patents and created such bicycle components as the quick release mechanism for wheels and derailleurs which allowed multi-speed bicycles.

Legend has it that many years ago, Tullio hurt his hand opening a wine bottle in celebration of a team victory.  His pain turned to inspiration, and thus the "Big" Corkscrew was born.

The "Big" Corkscrew's telescopic, self-centering bell positions the screw exactly in the middle of the cork and once screwed down, the two perfectly machined levers pull the cork out easily and delicately. The corkscrew has been designed to never twist completely through the cork, thus preventing pieces of cork dropping into the wine.  Quality materials and careful finishes accompany the sinuous shapes of its various parts. Each component is a characteristic feature of the Campagnolo brand.  Truly a work of art.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Little known fact: Inspired by the success of the "Big" Corkscrew, Campagnola slightly modified the mechanics of the device in 1938 to help Italian doctors perform lobotomies on patients who preferred Bordeaux to Barolo, transforming a work of art into a marvel of science.