Cork Press - Enterprise Manufacturing Company, circa 1887

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A Manufacturer Philadelphia, United States

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Summary:: Cork Press - Enterprise Manufacturing Company, circa 1887. Made by Enterprise Manufacturing Company Patent no.2 (1867/08/07). Used to mould corks so they could fit pharmaceutical bottles. Used in the pharmacy of a psychiatric hospital in Victoria, Australia
Description:: 12cm diameter vertical wheel with ridges on outside, set slightly off-centre with semi-circular frame with ridges on inside. At closest point corrugated surfaces are 1cm apart, at furthest 3.5cm. Frame has straight sides and is screwed to oblong wooden base. Vertical triangular shaft (concave) from bottom of frame supports wheel and shields cork from shooting outside while being rolled. Wheel has long slightly bent handle sticking outside, resting on top of frame. Painted black with yellow and gold trim.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Office of Psychiatric Services

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	17.00 cm (Height), 7.50 cm (Width), 31.00 cm (Length)

More information

Tagged with:	hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, pharmacy equipment, pharmaceuticals
Themes this item is part of:	Psychiatric Services Collection, Medicine in Society Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection
Primary Classification:	MEDICINE & HEALTH
Secondary Classification:	Mental Health - Pharmacy
Tertiary Classification:	equipment
Inscriptions:	ENTERPRISE MFG CO/PHILA engraved on handle. PAT AUG 7 NO 2 1867 engraved on side of frame.
Manufacturer:	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, circa 1887
Place & Date Used:	Victoria, Australia, 1887 or later
References:	oral history

Comments

William Lee Davis Posted on 23 Mar 2011 10:47 AM

This device is on old cork press to size corks for specific bottle sizes. Google the term and you will see other examples.

Discovery Centre Posted on 27 Mar 2011 12:09 PM

Hi William,

We referred your feedback to the curator of this collection and she has asked us to express her thanks for this information.

Bob Sutton Posted on 21 Dec 2011 3:49 AM

I was amazed to see your 'pill roller' still identified in the way that it is. William Lee Davis is quite correct. I recognised it immediately as a cork press - once a standard item of equipment found in many a school laboratory and elsewhere, where corks needed to be 'softened' to fit a particular bottle or flask. Mr Davis refers you to Google; may I suggest a more illustrious and reliable source: the Science Museum in London. Your Curator should refer to http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/objects/display.aspx?id=4931 and have your item re-classified without delay!

Discovery Centre Posted on 21 Dec 2011 3:25 PM

Hi Bill and William, your feedback has been passed onto the Curator, she has once again passed on her thanks and has made changes to the record, although it may take some time before this is reflected online.