Rotary cork presser, probably late 19th century.

Until the 1930s, corks were used to seal bottles of medical preparations so they could be taken home by the customer. Corks needed to be pressed and moulded in order to fit the bottle top. The cork press would have been made by a manufacturing chemist or pharmacist. Customers brought in their own glass bottles to save money. These bottles would previously have contained ordinary household foods and drinks, such as beer.