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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: tmerrifield on October 26, 2010, 04:41:37 PM

Title: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: tmerrifield on October 26, 2010, 04:41:37 PM
It's about 10 inches long, and the half eggshaped ends are about 2 inches in diameter and the same in height.  It appears to be galvanized

Thanks for any help you might be able to offer.
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: regularjoe2 on October 26, 2010, 06:25:33 PM
Welcome to the forum , tmerrifield .

My guesss would be that this is a handy item for grabbing up poached-in-the-shell eggs (from boiling water) & transferring them to egg cups .
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: Oceans64 on October 26, 2010, 06:41:11 PM
I would agree with Joe...  My Grandma had several "soft boiled" egg items filling the back of her cupboard.  I think there must have been some egg related  kitchen item trend in the 50's or something.  At least that's what we joked about when cleaning out the cupboards  :) 

Kinda cool little item and would think it would be handy for fishing out hard boiled eggs when I cook them with potatoes for a potato salad - altho tongs work too :)
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: KC on October 26, 2010, 08:37:49 PM
Meatballer!!!!!

maken some meatballs!!!!!!!

(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:PzgkIUixgKPSCM:http://www.bossgoo.com/photo/product4/782190/Meatball-maker.jpg&t=1)
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: mariok54 on October 27, 2010, 12:08:06 AM
KC could be right, but as a veggie I'll opt for immersing and removing boiled eggs  :D
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: regularjoe2 on October 27, 2010, 12:18:07 AM
Do you mean 1/2 - meatballer KC ?

Kinda like a meat igloo ?

 :D
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: cogar on October 27, 2010, 01:12:52 AM
I think that utensil was made for holding or molding something and NOT for grabbing hold of something.

If one lifted an egg out of boiling water with that they would also get a half a ladel of hot water with it.
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: KC on October 27, 2010, 01:20:51 AM
Oops....just now enlarged....not a meatball maker.

I believe that this is a set of bottle tongs.  Back to the time when they had to boil baby bottles....
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: waywardangler on October 27, 2010, 01:48:11 AM
I think if they were meant to get something out of a hot liquid, the cups would be perforated for drainage. I am thinking more along the lines of an ice cream baller, melon baller, etc. but the size looks to be larger than that.  Also the flat handles would be very uncomfortable to use for very long.
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: mariok54 on October 27, 2010, 01:54:47 AM
I possibly retract the boiled egg suggestion, but I'm keeping my options open  :) ... there must be some point to the scissor action ... but what?
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: waywardangler on October 27, 2010, 02:03:00 AM
I think the point of the scissor action would be to scoop whatever and then open the action with your fingers to release what is in the cup.  It could also be the reverse, have the action open, then close your fingers to grab something in the cup.  That flat stock would not be comfortable for your fingers very long as your fingers would be pushing/clasping the edges rather than the flats.  Not very ergonomic.

A crucible grabber in chem lab?
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: mariok54 on October 27, 2010, 08:21:59 AM
But what can it do, if it's for boiled eggs, dumplings, meatballs,  that an ordinary spoon could not achieve... other than be more accurate with dropping whatever, and in that case why not have a complete egg form, like KCs meatballer?? ...It looks as if it's intended to maybe hold something in place for some time... but what? Some sort of forceps? Wayward might be in the right area with a Laboratory...
This is going to result in some head scratching!!!Maybe Tmerrifield could provide some history?
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: hosman321 on October 27, 2010, 09:05:48 AM
Mariok, you have chickens. Would these have any purpose for moving eggs? Say, for incubator use? Maybe not these days but way back when? ???
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: CuriousCollector on October 27, 2010, 09:30:19 AM
A really, really scary eyelash curler?
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: mariok54 on October 27, 2010, 10:20:51 AM
Mariok, you have chickens. Would these have any purpose for moving eggs? Say, for incubator use? Maybe not these days but way back when? ???

I leave moving eggs to the hens  :)
Nice thought though, hosman, but I think hands would be gentler, safer, and warmer ....

I hope this isn't going to turn out to be something simply mundane, or mundanely simple, like a plastic surgeon's nose straightener
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: marcylove on October 27, 2010, 11:04:30 AM
here's an idea....still looking tho...

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tias.com/stores/squirrel/pictures/brass23a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tias.com/13/PictPage/3923598478.html&usg=__uYBCl5zFptUENNR-FAGkNS3nzFc=&h=225&w=300&sz=33&hl=en&start=65&zoom=0&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=nCMF44FmSKtRDM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dantique%2Begg%2Bshaped%2Bscissors%26start%3D60%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: KC on October 27, 2010, 11:19:26 AM
Actually have one of those Marcylove!

Okay, in reference to the tool......I do believe it could be to hold the eggs....not well....but could do it.

I have several boxes/drawers full of "useless" or "ridiculous" kitchen items that friends/family have given as "what is it" gifts over the past 30+ years - from all over the world.   Someone made them, got them manufactured, and obviously someone bought them!  So....anything goes! 

The thing that bugs me...is....I know I have seen one of these before!!!!!  (I don't have one)
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: mariok54 on October 27, 2010, 11:35:54 AM
I'm glad KC is with me on the eggs .. despite the fact that I was almost a turncoat ..
Picture this .. large pan full of boiling eggs .. troop of boy scouts all in a line with empty egg cups... Just the job!
OK it requires a bit of imagination :(
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: marcylove on October 27, 2010, 11:43:58 AM
similar ice cream scoops...

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.antiqbuyer.com/images/ARCHIVE_PICS/kitchen_archive/KITCH_GRPS/scoops/buy%2520scoop/scoop_2splt.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.antiqbuyer.com/scoop.html&usg=__wg-ZBTLyIu06uNdJ3DHDu6UGb9U=&h=316&w=614&sz=19&hl=en&start=8&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=eJRo6CL5QelybM:&tbnh=70&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dantique%2Bice%2Bcream%2Bscoop%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: tmerrifield on October 27, 2010, 03:50:00 PM
Great ideas everyone,  I'm kind of leaning toward some sort of egg retriever, but  still looking for other ideas.

I don't have much in the way of history on it, it came from my Grandfathers barn, but he could have picked it up anywhere.

It looks too rough to have been used in the kitchen.  But maybe a farm tool?
Anyway,  Thanks for the ideas and keep them coming.
Thanks
            Tom
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: sapphire on October 27, 2010, 04:04:14 PM
Farm, barn, eggs...........for retrieving eggs from the nest ???  ::)
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: waywardangler on October 27, 2010, 06:08:35 PM
When I moved out to the country in 1998, our golden retriever, Sunny, ran into the woods and came back with a turkey egg in her mouth...perfect and unbroken.  Now, that was an egg retriever!   ;D
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: sapphire on October 27, 2010, 06:27:53 PM
 ::)
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: wendy177 on October 27, 2010, 06:54:55 PM
Sapphire you crack me up!!!!!   ;D
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: KC on October 27, 2010, 11:48:28 PM
Love that one wayward!!!!
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: marcylove on October 28, 2010, 12:10:28 AM
I feel the same sapphire!  I've looked at everything medically and kitchen related that I could find!!!

 >:(
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: tmerrifield on October 29, 2010, 02:45:18 AM
Thanks for all your effort and input.  I'll keep researching and when I identify it, will post it here for all to see.

Thanks again,
          Tom
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: marcylove on October 29, 2010, 11:02:23 AM
I DO like the poached egg idea...I actually have a friend who grew up on a chicken farm...I think I'll pass the picture along and see if she knows what it is!
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: KC on October 29, 2010, 11:14:02 AM
Both parents said immediately together....for eggs!!!!  Pulling out of hot water!  They remembered them well!  Said they were hard to use and laughed!

As for them to be used to get out from under the hen...they laughed even harder that someone suggested that.  Mom said that their chickens would have pecked the person to death for putting a cold metal object under them!!!!  Hands worked the best and cheapest!
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: tmerrifield on October 29, 2010, 05:39:45 PM
Thank you KC.  Sounds like we have our answer they were used for removing eggs from hot water.
The really do look cumbersome, but I guess they did the job.

  I appreciate everyones effort. 

Tom
Title: Re: Any idea what this item is?
Post by: regularjoe2 on October 29, 2010, 07:02:44 PM
Perhaps you could give them a try-out with some hard-boileds during the Thanksgiving holiday & let us know how they work ?

I've been poking around & have not found any exactly like yours , tmerrifield .

Thanks for posting this item here , esp. since we've got a bunch of "what the heck is this thing" fans !