Unusual & mysterious kitchen gadgets

[chromedome]

For shaving a block of chocolate? (based on that last remark...)

[boilsover]

25 minutes ago, chromedome said:

For shaving a block of chocolate? (based on that last remark...)

 

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!  Yes, it's made to shave block chocolate to serve the demand of 17th Century Europeans crazed for hot chocolate.  Ironically, this craze was a major driver of the world's slave trade well into the 1800s.

Edited April 3, 2018 by boilsover (log)

[Kerry Beal]

51 minutes ago, chromedome said:

For shaving a block of chocolate? (based on that last remark...)

Based on the hint - I'd say the same. 

[pastrygirl]

3 hours ago, chromedome said:

For shaving a block of chocolate? (based on that last remark...)

 

3 hours ago, boilsover said:

 

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!  Yes, it's made to shave block chocolate to serve the demand of 17th Century Europeans crazed for hot chocolate.  Ironically, this craze was a major driver of the world's slave trade well into the 1800s.

 

 

Interesting!  Does anyone know what size or shape these blocks were?  It almost looks like today's Callebaut 5kg bars would fit nicely.

[Mrufusj]

Hi guys! So many crazy things I’ve never seen before haha. Any help with this? Not sharp enough to be a knife but I can’t find a real answers, just guesses! 

[Anna N]

What makes you think it is an implement used in the kitchen?

[IowaDee]

I wondered about that as well.  It strikes me  as something connected with weaving.  Looks like it might be a comb of some sort.

 

[Alex]

A prototype santoku. It didn't work very well, so its creator quit the business and went into politics.

[gfweb]

It's an old Appalachian earthworm caller. 

Pound a stake in wet soil and saw this back and forth on the stake. 

The vibrations make the worms nuts and they flee their burrows. 

[Okanagancook]

Ingenious 

[Kerry Beal]

11 hours ago, IowaDee said:

I wondered about that as well.  It strikes me  as something connected with weaving.  Looks like it might be a comb of some sort.

 

That was my first impression - kind of a mini loom part to separate the yarn strands.

[DanM]

22 hours ago, Mrufusj said:

Hi guys! So many crazy things I’ve never seen before haha. Any help with this? Not sharp enough to be a knife but I can’t find a real answers, just guesses! 

No idea, but it seems ribbed for the cooks pleasure. 

[TicTac]

This one's easy....

 

It's used to scratch all those hard to reach places!

[pastrygirl]

A chef buddy just texted me these pics, says it’s to cut confectionery fillings ... or maybe deposit them?  Vintage with brass ... Anyone have more knowledge about the use/value of such a thing?  Do I need it?  Do you?

 

i might go check it out tomorrow ... 

[Kerry Beal]

It's a cream depositor - here

[heidih]

Whatever it is it is hilarious. A guillotine called "Friend"!!!!

Edited August 7, 2018 by heidih (log)

[pastrygirl]

2 minutes ago, Kerry Beal said:

It's a cream depositor - here

 

Aha!  Thank you, that will help with research.  So for those old school buttercream centers to be dipped or enrobed.  Mash it through the holes then cut the discs free with some sort of blade?  If it could also be used for cookie doughs that might be handy ... hmm. 

[Kerry Beal]

3 minutes ago, pastrygirl said:

 

Aha!  Thank you, that will help with research.  So for those old school buttercream centers to be dipped or enrobed.  Mash it through the holes then cut the discs free with some sort of blade?  If it could also be used for cookie doughs that might be handy ... hmm. 

Yup - wire goes across and cuts it.

[pastrygirl]

@Kerry Beal, I was in the neighborhood so I took a look at it, seem to be in working order, it's a simple machine after all.  I totally don't actually need this but I'm still sort of fascinated.  There's an electrical plug and switch on one side, does the hopper heat up?    I haven't found any other info about this online, must not be too many around.

[Kerry Beal]

2 hours ago, pastrygirl said:

@Kerry Beal, I was in the neighborhood so I took a look at it, seem to be in working order, it's a simple machine after all.  I totally don't actually need this but I'm still sort of fascinated.  There's an electrical plug and switch on one side, does the hopper heat up?    I haven't found any other info about this online, must not be too many around.

I'll ask Ruth to comment - she knows a whole lot more about them.

 

[Chocolot]

Ah, the beautiful Lab model Friend machine. Mine didn't have the embossed name on the side. Not sure if that was a newer or older addition. Yes, the plug is for the hopper to heat up so that the cream fondant will move and deposit easier. I never once used the heat. I sold mine years ago, because I just didn't need it any more. It holds 20# of cream fondant in the hopper. You place a latex rubber mat on top of the fondant, and crank the lid down on top. The fondant squeezes out sort of like toothpaste out of the tube x 48. There should be a raised tray under the die on which another tray with parchment or waxed paper sits. As the fondant squeezes out, the wire harp (which has to be adjusted for each die) cuts the fondant at the same time the operator drops the tray away from the cutter. You slide out the paper holding the fondant balls and repeat. Once everything is adjusted, you can deposit a lot of fondant in a short time. The dies come in different shapes and sizes. Each time you change a die, you have to manually change the wires on the harp. Like a guitar, you don't want to break one. Once it is all deposited, then you get to clean the beast. It was a beautiful piece of machinery, and I loved it, but just didn't need/want it anymore. I think I paid $400 for it very used, 50 years ago. Sold it for about the same maybe 8 years ago. The dies are expensive, especially if you have to have them made. Mine came with a too small round, an oval and a large easter egg shape. I had to have the larger round made. It is the only one I ever used. Do you need it? Probably not. Not unless you have a way of making 20# of fondant at a time. How do you do that? With a 2 ft cream beater. How do you fill the cream beater? With a Savage furnace and a large copper pot. See where I am going with this?:). An old time candy shop that still makes cream fondant centers would be about the only place that would use it. I can't think of a use for ganache. It also weights a ton. Typing this up brought back a lot of memories. My arms could still operate it. Muscle memory is still there. Let us know if you get it.

[Chocolot]

 

Kerry's link shows it in operation. That one looks just like mine, although the die is smaller. 

Edited August 9, 2018 by Chocolot
To add photos. (log)

[pastrygirl]

@Chocolot  thank you so much for responding with your expertise.  I've yet to make a single fondant cream center so you're right, I'm not about to go down the cream beater and Savage furnace road.  If I had a retail shop it could be a fun piece of vintage decor, but I'll pass for now. 

 

edited to add:  if you come across anyone looking for one, tell them there's one in Seattle (though I did not inquire about price) ... very useful for the right person

Edited August 9, 2018 by pastrygirl (log)

[rotuts]

here are two pans Im unfamiliar with :

 

 

this comes from the Australian show :  The Chef's Line.  several cooks were using this

 

The second pan 

 

 

comes from Jamie Oliver's show Jamies Quick and Easy Food.

 

it looks a lot like a T-Fal

 

https://www.amazon.com/T-fal-Nonstick-Cookware-Thermo-Spot-Indicator/dp/B000GWG0T2/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1535125129&sr=1-5&dpID=21UQpzHn4FL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

I have several of these , the version that goes in the oven.   I have not see a T-Fal pan w a metal handle.

 

any ideas ?

[Anna N]

 Might be the T-fal. 

 

 No it’s not the same pan but it does have a metal handle. 

 

Edited to revise my assumption.

Edited August 24, 2018 by Anna N (log)