What is it??

[chubbyalaskagriz]

I don't know- never seen such a tool! But I suspect Cathy and mama may be correct- some sort of butter scoop- or butter curler.

Or maybe something to do w/ those old-time ice blocks. Maybe a gadget to shave ice with for cool drinks? Or some sort of cheese knife?
Hmmm... This is a fun one!

Anyone else?

[tommy1de]

I checked with an expert collector of ice cream scoops and she had never seen such a thing but did not think it was ice cream related. Also, the edges are much too blunt to shave ice. Tommy

[chubbyalaskagriz]

A co-worker says he thinks it looks like a homemade one-of-a-kind gadget, possibly made by welding a spoon to a handle for some unique, specialized purpose.

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Another co-worker says it is a combination shrimp deveiner/shoe-horn!

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Another guy says it's definitely a doo-hickey used in knee-replacement surgeries!!!

[CanMan]

I go along with the doo-hickey designation.

[tommy1de]

I checked with an expert collector of ice cream scoops and she has never seen such a thing and did not think it was ice cream related. Also, the edges are much too blunt to shave ice. No markings whatsoever. It is pretty sturdy; scoop is somewhat thick, about 1/8 inch. Seems to be professionally manufactured rather than home made.Tommy

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

I am pretty convienced it is used in the process of butter making. They used it to scrape the butter from the churn, if my ex-hubby were around I would ask him, his mother made real butter, but well.......I am convienced. I am going to do a on-line search for butther churning and see if I can find it!

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

It looks like a curved butter paddle, only not solid wood like the one I saw on www.lehmas.com under butter making supplies. Go see if you think it could possibly be that Tommy. I am almost convienced that is what it is. And whoever made it was very smart indeed. Can you imagine how much work it took to churn butter in an old wooden or crock churn? You would most certainly not want 1 little bit go to waste. I think that tool would have done an excellent job scraping the sides and paddles of any butter that would stick to them.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

I am not done searching this thing out yet! This is fun and I am going to try and figure it out for sure!

Now tha I looked at it again I think I am totally wrong. I think it is a shoe horn!