since you were so much help with the egg tool, here is another item

[tmerrifield]

As you can see from the picture, it is about 12 inches long  10 inches of which is the wooden handle. 
The end is 2 pieces rivieted so one side can move slightly to widen the forked end.
The end has 6 fairly sharp teeth

A very rough guess on age would be late 1800 or early 1900, but I may be wrong.
Thanks
          Tom

[waywardangler]

Carpet stretcher?

[KC]

I just saw one similar to this....was for ice....and then saw another one for scraping cheese?  Used to scrape off warm cheese?

[tmerrifield]

Another piece of informatin, he had 3 of these.  Didn't look at the other two too carefully, but looked as if they were identical.   
so either they were part of a set, or more likely used commonly

[mariok54]

Why the gap? And why does one half of the claw look as it was added on?

[waywardangler]

A set?  Were they all the same size?  The head appears to have been nickel-plated but is now rusty.  Was he an upholsterer by chance?  This could have been used as a webbing stretcher.  Was he a weaver?  Could have been used in weaving rag rugs or something but with the sharp teeth , I would still go with carpet or webbing stretcher, with my emphasis leaning towards webbing stretcher due to the 12" length.

[mariok54]

Here's an antique carpet stretcher on ebay, the claws/teeth seem similar, but as I've never used one I couldn't say whether it would do the same job 


http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Wood-w-Iron-Rug-Carpet-Stretcher-Hand-Tool_W0QQitemZ170495238340QQcategoryZ1461QQcmdZViewItem

[tmerrifield]

Some sort of stretcher seems like a good possibility.  The teeth are angled down  and toward the center so as to grab when pushed.   Might be too small for a carpet stretcher, but maybe a web stretcher.   Also, one of my ancestors was a cobbler,  we still have his cobblers bench, forms and tools.  These were not stored with them, but could be related to that?

The end definately is 2 pieces. Looks like the 2 pieces  could be adjusted about 1/8 of an inch apart.
 
I've only got the one here, but all three appear to be the same size.

Fantastic feedback, I think we are on the right track.

[talesofthesevenseas]

My first inclination was that it was some sort of ice scraper, but I wonder if it could have been something used for tanning leather by the cobbler ancestor?

[talesofthesevenseas]

Here is an old photo of workers tanning leather. I wish I could get a better look at what tool they are using:

[KC]

I just watched a great "dirty jobs" program where he worked at a tannery.  Possibly could do that as well....but more likely would have had a larger/wider tool!

[olecanalantiques]

My first inclination was that it was some sort of ice scraper, but I wonder if it could have been something used for tanning leather by the cobbler ancestor?

My thoughts exactly, i also believe if it is, it was for a small shop not industrial use...

[waywardangler]

It does not resemble any ice scraper I have seen pictured.  The pic in the tannery appears to be one of workers fleshing out hides.  This tool would not be used for fleshing.  The fourth guy in the pic is using a fleshing tool.  You can see the tool (looks like a drawknife with straight out handles in the pic)that he is working on the hide over the fleshing beam. As to cobbler tools, I was looking at many images this morning and did not see any cobbler tools like this.  I did see a tool that resembles an unknown I have so I am looking further into that.  I still believe it was used as some sort of stretching tool.  The divided head that pivots on a rivet would spread out slightly when pushed, but would also release easier when pulled back (the pivoting head would come together the 1/8" and be easier to pull out of the material).

It may have been used to stretch leather over a form as in upholstery but probably not in making shoes.

[mariok54]

OK .... a backscratcher               

[talesofthesevenseas]

LOL @ Mariok54! OUCH!!