Well I own the original from 1989 and my anchor works most of the time. The main issue is the rope or string they give you is very stiff, adn the anchor is only plastic so it doesn't weigh too much.
My guess is you are winding it up so far that the anchor or the knot attached to the anchor is getting stuck in the hole of bricks. Don't wind it up too far and it should wind down as well. Maybe exchange the rope/string they give you for some black thread. I did that and it works 100 times better, becasue at that point, the anchor becomes the heaviest piece and the thread is much more,....bendable, or plyable, (I'm not sure of the word I'm searching for)
I hope that helped.