~ Codd Bottle Openers ~ In 1873, Hiram Codd realized that inserting and capturing a marble in the neck of a bottle would provide a new and effective way of sealing mineral water and soda bottles without corks or external stoppers. His bottle used the effervescent pressure of the mineral water to force a marble against the upper ring of the neck of the bottle. This made a very efficient and durable seal. Some of these bottles have remained sealed for more than 100 years. At first glance, Codds idea appears brilliantly simple. However, like all things that look to be simple at first; the Codd bottle is much more ingenious than it appears. For instance, a way would have to be devised to keep the marble from stopping the bottle when it was tilted for pouring or drinking. Designing the neck of the bottle to keep the marble in its place while the bottle was tilted to one side solved this problem. Cleverly tipping the bottle to the other side allows the marble to re-seat itself after only a measured amount of fluid passes, limiting the drinker to one swig or drink. The bottle could easily be re-sealed by shaking it vigorously, and then tilting it upside down to cause the marble to re-seat itself over the mouth of the bottle. Codd also developed a bottle opener to be inserted into the bottles neck to push the marble down enough to let the trapped gas escape. The marble would then drop, opening the bottle. Although Codds opener was widely used in public settings, privately most people simply used their little finger to push the marble down.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:03:56 +0000
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