Can anyone identify this object ???

[scorp123]

Hey Porcorosso, maybe it has something to do with cracking walnuts.

Unlikely ... that central metal basket cannot be collapsed any further. Whatever it was made for, cutting something or cracking nuts are not amongst the intended functions.

The suggestion about it holding something was probably the best so far. But I also agree with the argument about the stick being a bit too short and too small ... if you put this thing into a fryer (even a specially designed-for-this-strange-thing one) you'd probably get your hands burned.

Is there any chance that this is some sort of .... I dunno ... 'tool' of any sorts? As there are no blades on it it's probably safe to say that this thing isn't something a carpenter would use. You can't cut wood with it.

Maybe this is some weird sort of paint brush of some kind or something a painter would use??? (maybe there are parts missing) ...

We're thankful for any idea what this thing might be.

[porcorosso]

best guess would be a fryer holder
or to hold something while it's boiling....

That's a possibility, but I would think the metal part of the handle would be a little longer to keep the wood (and hand) away from the fryer/boiler.

Hey Porcorosso, maybe it has something to do with cracking walnuts.

Oh, wow! I hadn't thought of that one in a LONG time! Danny Thomas was hilarious in that episode! Thanks for reminding me! (You are referring to that DvD episode, right?)

Okay, I'm going to stop reminiscing about that show now. It's OT.

[kenetics]

@scorp, I was referring to another - very funny - episode of the Dick Van Dyke show titled "It may look like a walnut!". It was a parody of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", in which the alien pods looked like walnuts. They took over people bodies and left them emotionless and without thumbs (the theory being without opposable thumbs, humans would be helpless).

I was wondering if porcorosso would remember the episode and he did!

See how much you miss out on without American TV? My god, this stuff is from the 60's and I remember it.

[sourwire]

A NetHack 'scroll of identify' would be really useful for this situation. Blessed or at least uncursed.

[blogger]

It's so obvious!
The crackerjack who invented the gadget was a nut. So, this is definitely a nut cracker; used mostly in the nut house, where these people end up after their crackup.

[nick]

Hi

Obviously for squashing the "magic smoke" into IC's

Nick

[arjaybe]

It's possible the device is meant to hold a bar of soap. I've seen similar things. It would be for making water soapy.

[scorp123]

It's possible the device is meant to hold a bar of soap. I've seen similar things. It would be for making water soapy.

.... but why would you do that? And in what context? Who would use such a thing e.g. to make water soapy?

[cogDis]

It's possible the device is meant to hold a bar of soap. I've seen similar things. It would be for making water soapy.

.... but why would you do that? And in what context? Who would use such a thing e.g. to make water soapy?

Laundry. Back when you used to do it by hand with home made soap.

[scorp123]

Laundry. Back when you used to do it by hand with home made soap.

Good point. I'll forward that theory to the owner of this very strange object

[cogDis]

I was thinking that this is a device they used to call a "soap saver". However, after revisiting your friends photos, I'm not so sure. The ends seem like they are too open to hold the ever diminishing fragments of soap. The ones I have seen before are generally much more primitive, although Germans are known for their engineering!

Here's a link to one just like my Grandma used to have. Somewhat similar, but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/showcase-it ... ores/mamas