Help! What is this?

[daisymae32]

My Grandma found this kitchen tool while cleaning and doesn't know what it is called or what it is used for. We've done some research but can't find anything about it. Can anyone tell me what it is called and what it is used for?

[**Tinkerbell**]

I'll have to do some research, but at first glance two things come to mind.

I have a strawberry hulled that is almost exactly like that, only smaller and rounder.
I can also picture making little ravioli-type filled dough pockets with it.

Does it fit with either of these ideas?
*Tink

ETA: this is what my strawberry huller looks like. It's on a little handle, but I found this close-up of the business end to compare with yours.

[daisymae32]

It is too big to be a strawberry huller but maybe the ravioli type thing. I'm still not quite sure it is that yet.

[Dee514]

I could be wrong (pic is small), but it looks like one type of vintage butter curler. You would drag it across a stick of softened butter to produce a cone shaped, ridged, curl of butter. The curls were then placed into a bowl of ice water to chill/firm up until they were needed at serving time. Of course they were removed from the ice water and placed in a serving dish or on the individual bread & butter plates at each place setting.

[katie in the UP]

Dee514 wrote:
I could be wrong (pic is small), but it looks like one type of vintage butter curler. You would drag it across a stick of softened butter to produce a cone shaped, ridged, curl of butter. The curls were then placed into a bowl of ice water to chill/firm up until they were needed at serving time. Of course they were removed from the ice water and placed in a serving dish or on the individual bread & butter plates at each place setting.

I think you have it Dee!!

[**Tinkerbell**]

It's definitely a possibility, but I've not been able to locate one with teeth all the way around. The butter curlers I'm finding only have teeth on one side or at the end of the tool.
I think your idea brings up a good point though, it has to be a serving type tool. There is no way I'd be putting that thing in my mouth!


Of course, now I want a new gadgie.

[Dee514]

**Tinkerbell** wrote:
It's definitely a possibility, but I've not been able to locate one with teeth all the way around.

True, but given its conical shape, having the teeth on both sides allows it to be used by right and/or left handed people.

I've seen some pretty oddly shaped butter curlers in museums, nothing like the more common "vintage" shaped ones (pictured above) that I see at flea markets and antique/second hand stores.

Then again it could be something else entirely

[daisymae32]

We thought it might be a butter curler but weren't exactly sure. I'm starting to think that is more of what it is but wish we could be 100% sure. I'm glad other people kind of think that is what it might be. Any other things that come to mind about what it is?

[Dee514]

Another thought.....could it possibly be a cucumber (de)seeder? For removing the seeds/hollowing the middle of cucumbers, zucchini, etc?

Perhaps the person that has the "More Than McCoy" website could help identify it - their contact info is at the bottom of their page - http://pages.morethanmccoy.com/8731/InventoryPage/1611824/1.html

[Dee514]

Obviously this is making me nuts....but I think I found it!!!

Would you believe..............its a vintage hand fish scaler!

I couldn't get the pic to post, but here is a link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/C3-Vintage-Hand-fish-scaler-Speed-scaler-fishing-tool-metal-great-working-cond-/330793198125

[daisymae32]

That looks pretty close to what it is. However, the edges on the tool I have are smooth and not jagged like the fish scaler. The tool doesn't look like it would be able to take scales of a fish because of the smoother ridges. Any other ideas?

[kseiverd]

My guess would be a fish scaler?!?

[**Tinkerbell**]

daisymae32 wrote:
That looks pretty close to what it is. However, the edges on the tool I have are smooth and not jagged like the fish scaler. The tool doesn't look like it would be able to take scales of a fish because of the smoother ridges. Any other ideas?

Ohhhh.... I see the difference between the "teeth" we've been going to and the "ridges" that your tool has.

I guess I have to go back to my pie or ravioli type crimper idea. The spoon part looks deep enough to hold some filling while you push down on the sandwich of dough, filling, dough, to make a ravioli or bite-sized pie.

[duonyte]

I could swear I've seen this in an issue of Cooks Illustrated. Unfortunately they don't have a section for antique tools on their website. At least I could not find one. And I've been glancing through the issues I still have at home, just have not run across it. I cannot remember anything about it, alas.

[daisymae32]

I could see the ravioli or cookie crimper. My Grandma did mention something about the Cooks Illustrated thing but we don't have that to look through. We will get to the bottom of what this thing is!