The notch is for pulling nails. I can see the triangular holes work for this, if they’re big enough to get the nailhead through. (But why have four of them?)
I rather like this cigar box opener idea. Clever!
Didn’t try a magnet but it felt like steel. Definitely not aluminum.
Bearing in mind that my credentials consist solely of having idly glanced at lots of old-timey-things in junk and antique stores, my impression is that it could be 1920’s if it had been pretty much unused, stashed in a drawer or something. But I wouldn’t dismiss your opinion. And my learned gut feeling is that it’s 1940’s at the latest.
I don’t buy it because why have differently sized holes to attach the fan to?
A nail puller sounds more plausible, but they usually are open so you can slip it around the nailhead without getting it over the nailhead.
I thought maybe a positioning tool for nailing - like nailing a coffin shut - except that then you can’t get the tool out. Maybe a nail hole starter? I could use one of them.
Whereas mine of “frozen hobo scraper” is looking up!
I think its a pizza cutter, low tech version. You have to slide this one, cause they hadn’t invented the wheel yet.:rolleyes:
I’ll toss out avocado peeler. There isn’t one exactly like it in these images, but a number of them have that slightly curved shape.
It doesn’t seem quite right, but I’m following the idea that it’s some kind of culinary tool.
I don’t see how it could be useful as a cigar box opener.
I’m curious about the heft of the item. Was it sturdy enough to be, lets say a bottle opener, or is it lightweight sheet metal that would bend hopelessly if you tried?
New idea; it doesn’t do anything but that’s the point. Every person given one of them will spend as much time wondering what it’s used for as we did, and thereby will surely remember the candidate’s name. (More so than when they’re given a stupid and only slightly useful tchotchke.)
Me too. Also a quick check with a magnet would be valuable along with whether it is painted on just one side (as it appears in the photos)
OP, may I post this to reddit for you?
Get with the spelling! Not the same name. :smack:
Sure. Give us the link afterwards, ok?
Will do but would like to be able to describe with magnet/paint questions.
Lightweight. The curator of the curio, who read this thread yesterday afternoon, tells me it’s probably not strong enough to open a bottle, definitly not a can opener. She finds herself leaning toward ice scraper of some sort, and enjoyed the macabre coroner tool suggestions. I’ll add that it might be capable of pulling a tack out of very soft wood.
Painted one side only.
I’ll ask the curator to give it a try.
I have joined to identify the mysterious object. The fact that I have and still use mine indicates that I am not of the computer age, so forgive my blunderings.
You are so close in many posts and the coroner theory led to all sorts of creative thinking.
It is a butter curler. Back before refrigerators, you didn’t buy neatly wrapped units of butter but a weighed slab. This was kept in the cool room, but it looked pretty uncouth just serving a lump of butter in a dish to family and friends.
To make curls you scrape across the surface of the butter which automatically forms a curl. They can be plain using one side of the tool or “striped” which uses that grater side.
The butter was the last thing to go on the table and ’ ladies ’ noticed how tight and neat the curls were.
I use it to make fancy Nutella and peanut butter breads for parties.
Makes as much sense as anything else in the thread I guess
Welcome to the Dope. No blundering, you fought ignorance with your first post!
I guess this is the modern equivalent at Amazon.
Nailed it with your first post!
After looking at dozens of pictures of butter curlers, there is enough variety that makes it a plausible candidate. That being said, I saw no butter curlers that looked just like the one in the OP.
Nor did I, but remember that this was a free, perhaps 90 year old campaign freebie. Tomyros said they had one that was still in use. I assume it is similar, if not identical to the one in the OP.