[georgetowndc]

I found this in the kitchen drawer of a friend that has passed away. He studied at Le Cordon Bleu. I have no idea what it is. Your help is much appreciated. It measures 4-3/4" from top to bottom. The wooden handle is about 2-1/2".

IMG_4420.JPG

• georgetowndc
• Sep 30, 2015

 

[phatch]

Is the head aluminum or plastic? 

To me, it looks like a section of aluminum heat sink that was repurposed, maybe as whisk. If plastic, maybe it was a moulding or connector that was repurposed.

Did your friend have any particular food hobbies? Brewer/distiller maybe? and he used this for handling the mash?

 

[pete]

I have never seen anything like that before.  I kind of agree with phatch's assessment that it might be a homemade job, but for what I couldn't guess.

 

[jake t buds]

With what other tools was it with in the drawer? Does the top plastic part have any distinguishing markers, embossed lettering or numbering? Does it have a rough edge from being cut or was it molded as such? Are there any identifying markers that suggested it's use? Scratches or dents or food/ muck buildup in the corners? Does it have any heat damage. 

Is it flexible? The "handle' doesn't look like it's held in place firmly. I'm thinking you could hold the top part down and just lift the handle out.  I don't think it was used with the handle as the preferred method of action. Maybe it's used just to move it into place? It definitely seems ad hoc. 

A measuring device, perhaps? 

It looks like it might be some sort of structural component for extruded box molding? It appears to follow the shape of a square. 

My best guess is something to do with pastry and baking. A mold of some sort or maybe a tool to achieve decorative results, like clay tools in pottery. 

A neat mystery, though. 

 

[georgetowndc]

Thank you all for your input.

The top part is metal - probably a heavy aluminum-and the tool was in the kitchen drawer of tools. There are no markings on the top metal part, which has sort of sharp edges, but looks like it was molded. No food on it and it doesn't look like it was heated. The ladies at a local Williams-Sonoma store, first thought it looked like a rosette maker, but the handle is too short. My friend did not have any food hobbies like brewing.

It is not flexible and is held firmly in place. (see new photo)

I thought it might be pie crimper or something to do with pastry.

Mystery-Tool.jpg

• georgetowndc
• Oct 1, 2015

 

[pete]

While it could be a homemade rosette form, the placement of the handle would make it awkward to work with.  The handle normally would be in the center, rising above it. Whatever it is, the more I look at it the more convinced I become that it is a homemade thing.  I also wonder if it is a "kitchen" tool.  I know that I have a number of other tools in my kitchen so it really could be for anything.

 

[phatch]

Since it's aluminum, I'm going to stick with heat sink as it's original purpose.

It looks like he used an old phillips head screwdriver as a punch to bond the handle to the head.

With that small handle and the solid center I'm going to guess it was a home-made soldering heat sink. Did he dabble in electronics?

 

[georgetowndc]

Thanks, Pete. Yes, it may not be a kitchen tool.

 

[ed buchanan]

Dip it into a sweet batter then put in deep fryer for a Dutch type pastry.

 

[luc_h]

The slots look like they can hold several things is a ring or a flower pattern (like hold several coffee cups by their handle?!)

or it's a multiple beer bottle opener!/img/vbsmilies/smilies/drinkbeer.gif

Luc H.

 

[jake t buds]

OK!!!

Meat tenderizer!!!

 

[panini]

I agree with @phatch it looks like an old heat sink

 

[cerise]

I found this in the kitchen drawer of a friend that has passed away. He studied at Le Cordon Bleu. I have no idea what it is. Your help is much appreciated. It measures 4-3/4" from top to bottom. The wooden handle is about 2-1/2".

IMG_4420.JPG

• georgetowndc
• Sep 30, 2015

I am so sorry for your loss of your dear friend. It appears to be a homemade device - unlike anything I have seen. Tenderizer or pie crimper came to mind as well.

 

[jr home chef]

it appears it is used to hold things (due to the symmetry), or do something with heat. I am truly baffled.

 

[panini]

I think something that a lot of responses on this are not taking into consideration is the actual size of it. The whole thing would fit in the palm of your hand. It might even be some sort of small whisk or potato masher? No, can't even hold the stick in your hand. I'm baffled also

Still, old audio heat sinks are similar. My son had a whole box of these type things when he worked on old audio.

 

[lagom]

Maybe consider the idea that it's not even a kitchen tool.

 

[teamfat]

A trivet of sorts.

 

[cheflayne]

A trivet of sorts.

Possibly a sterno trivet for a chafer.

 

[dcarch]

It cannot be a heat sink. Not enough fins.

The wood part does not look like a handle to me.

I think it is (a sample) part of a structural post extrusion for connecting panels, like the following post connectors:

http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j...ds-Shell-Scheme-Stands-Trade-Show-Display.jpg

http://aeva.io/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/pcb_conn.png

http://blog.framingtech.com/wp-content/uploads/aluminum-extrusion-300x208.jpg

dcarch

 

[meezenplaz]

If its a sterno trivet, (or ANY trivet for that matter) why would you need a wood handle?

To me it would just get in the way, both in use and in storing it.

Defintely not a brewing tool, cant think off how you would use it in that capacity.

If it were made of cast iron or steel, might be a rad way to mark small steaks. lol

And it appears too small and light weight to "beat" or "pound" anything, like in tenderizing.

Cant "spin it", not with that handle sticking out. Same with "rolling it" on something, like dough.

Submitted for your approval, a trinket from the twilight zone, fer sure. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/lookaround.gif

ETA:

I think it is (a sample) part of a structural post extrusion for connecting panels, like the following post connectors:

I know, it's a self-sealing stem bolt. So that's what they look like. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/lol.gif

Seriously, Id agree its a good chance it's been re-purposed, adapted with a makeshift handle and dumped in a drawer,

probably never to be used again.