Any idea what this item is?

[tmerrifield]

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.

[regularjoe2]

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 .

[Oceans64]

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

[KC]

Meatballer!!!!!

maken some meatballs!!!!!!!

[mariok54]

KC could be right, but as a veggie I'll opt for immersing and removing boiled eggs 

[regularjoe2]

Do you mean 1/2 - meatballer KC ?

Kinda like a meat igloo ?

 

[cogar]

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.

[KC]

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....

[waywardangler]

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.

[mariok54]

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?

[waywardangler]

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?

[mariok54]

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?

[hosman321]

Mariok, you have chickens. Would these have any purpose for moving eggs? Say, for incubator use? Maybe not these days but way back when?

[CuriousCollector]

A really, really scary eyelash curler?

[mariok54]

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