Here it is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ110131198594

My first thought is some sort of ricer,
but the holes are too few and far between.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> Here it is:
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ110131198594
>
> My first thought is some sort of ricer,
> but the holes are too few and far between.

Looks like some sort of a vegetable steamer designed to fit over a pot with
handles on either side... or a strainer.

The question is, do you actually know the answer? The person who posted it
on eBay doesn't seem to.

Jill

"Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
...
> Here it is:
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ110131198594
>
> My first thought is some sort of ricer,
> but the holes are too few and far between.

Skimmer?

KW

jmcquown wrote:
>
> The question is, do you actually know the answer?
> The person who posted it on eBay doesn't seem to.

No, I don't. I don't usually post links to devices
if I know what they do. In that case, I usually
send an e-mail to the seller telling them what
it is.

Mark Thorson said...

> Here it is:
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ110131198594
>
> My first thought is some sort of ricer,
> but the holes are too few and far between.


How about to drain cans of tuna? Remove the top, press it down to press down
the tuna to the bottom, bringing the water or oil to the surface, then flip
to pour it off!??? For cafeteria assembly line use?? LOL!

Or not,

Andy

Andy wrote:
> Mark Thorson said...
>
>> Here it is:
>>
>> http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ110131198594
>>
>> My first thought is some sort of ricer,
>> but the holes are too few and far between.
>
>
> How about to drain cans of tuna? Remove the top, press it down to press down
> the tuna to the bottom, bringing the water or oil to the surface, then flip
> to pour it off!??? For cafeteria assembly line use?? LOL!
>
> Or not,
>
> Andy

Perhaps not far off? Is it a press for making crocks of sourkraut? (I
know that is misspelled but I don't have time to check spelling!)

Goomba38 wrote:
>
> Andy wrote:
> >
> > How about to drain cans of tuna? Remove the top, press it down to press
> > down the tuna to the bottom, bringing the water or oil to the surface,
> > then flip to pour it off!??? For cafeteria assembly line use?? LOL!
>
> Perhaps not far off? Is it a press for making crocks of sourkraut? (I
> know that is misspelled but I don't have time to check spelling!)

When Andy posted his guess, I thought that was
the best yet. It's consistent with the number
of holes, curved bottom, standoff distance
between the handle shaft and the perforated
plate, and the configuration of the handles.

On the other hand, I thought that's an awfully
specialized tool. But if you were making gallons
of tuna salad, it might be a practical tool.

Sauerkraut or something else might
also make sense, but this tool doesn't look
like it can press very far into a container.
Something like a bowl or crock would be
deeper than a can of tuna.

On Fri, 25 May 2007 14:29:34 -0700, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>Goomba38 wrote:
>>
>> Andy wrote:
>> >
>> > How about to drain cans of tuna? Remove the top, press it down to press
>> > down the tuna to the bottom, bringing the water or oil to the surface,
>> > then flip to pour it off!??? For cafeteria assembly line use?? LOL!
>>
>> Perhaps not far off? Is it a press for making crocks of sourkraut? (I
>> know that is misspelled but I don't have time to check spelling!)
>
>When Andy posted his guess, I thought that was
>the best yet. It's consistent with the number
>of holes, curved bottom, standoff distance
>between the handle shaft and the perforated
>plate, and the configuration of the handles.
>
>On the other hand, I thought that's an awfully
>specialized tool. But if you were making gallons
>of tuna salad, it might be a practical tool.
>
>Sauerkraut or something else might
>also make sense, but this tool doesn't look
>like it can press very far into a container.
>Something like a bowl or crock would be
>deeper than a can of tuna.

Awfully big tin of tuna. Also, the sieve is curved. The description
says the sieve is about 5-3/4" across. That would make the vertical
member about 1+". It is spot welded so you couldn't apply large amounts
of pressure.

So, a press for a large crock is a good guess. Or a sieve for something
that is mostly liquid.

On May 25, 6:13 pm, Robert Klute > wrote:
> On Fri, 25 May 2007 14:29:34 -0700, Mark Thorson >
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >Goomba38 wrote:
>
> >> Andy wrote:
>
> >> > How about to drain cans of tuna? Remove the top, press it down to press
> >> > down the tuna to the bottom, bringing the water or oil to the surface,
> >> > then flip to pour it off!??? For cafeteria assembly line use?? LOL!
>
> >> Perhaps not far off? Is it a press for making crocks of sourkraut? (I
> >> know that is misspelled but I don't have time to check spelling!)
>
> >When Andy posted his guess, I thought that was
> >the best yet. It's consistent with the number
> >of holes, curved bottom, standoff distance
> >between the handle shaft and the perforated
> >plate, and the configuration of the handles.
>
> >On the other hand, I thought that's an awfully
> >specialized tool. But if you were making gallons
> >of tuna salad, it might be a practical tool.
>
> >Sauerkraut or something else might
> >also make sense, but this tool doesn't look
> >like it can press very far into a container.
> >Something like a bowl or crock would be
> >deeper than a can of tuna.
>
> Awfully big tin of tuna. Also, the sieve is curved. The description
> says the sieve is about 5-3/4" across. That would make the vertical
> member about 1+". It is spot welded so you couldn't apply large amounts
> of pressure.
>
> So, a press for a large crock is a good guess. Or a sieve for something
> that is mostly liquid.


A spaetzle maker?
Roll the dough into a ball, press the tool into it, cut the spaetzle
off the top of the sieve. Repeat as necessary.

On May 25, 6:13?pm, Robert Klute > wrote:
> On Fri, 25 May 2007 14:29:34 -0700, Mark Thorson >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >Goomba38 wrote:
>
> >> Andy wrote:
>
> >> > How about to drain cans of tuna? Remove the top, press it down to press
> >> > down the tuna to the bottom, bringing the water or oil to the surface,
> >> > then flip to pour it off!??? For cafeteria assembly line use?? LOL!
>
> >> Perhaps not far off? Is it a press for making crocks of sourkraut? (I
> >> know that is misspelled but I don't have time to check spelling!)
>
> >When Andy posted his guess, I thought that was
> >the best yet. It's consistent with the number
> >of holes, curved bottom, standoff distance
> >between the handle shaft and the perforated
> >plate, and the configuration of the handles.
>
> >On the other hand, I thought that's an awfully
> >specialized tool. But if you were making gallons
> >of tuna salad, it might be a practical tool.
>
> >Sauerkraut or something else might
> >also make sense, but this tool doesn't look
> >like it can press very far into a container.
> >Something like a bowl or crock would be
> >deeper than a can of tuna.
>
> Awfully big tin of tuna. Also, the sieve is curved. The description
> says the sieve is about 5-3/4" across. That would make the vertical
> member about 1+". It is spot welded so you couldn't apply large amounts
> of pressure.
>
> So, a press for a large crock is a good guess. Or a sieve for something
> that is mostly liquid.

Spot welding is stronger than rivets, and that it's spot welded
indicates it's not very old. The fact that it has two handles
suggests a lot of pressure can be applied, but then the perforated
disc and supports are only thin sheet metal so the construction is
actually rather flimsy, regardless of how fastened. We are only
assuming it's used for food, somehow though I doubt it.

Sheldon

On May 25, 3:44 pm, Mark Thorson > wrote:
> Here it is:
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ110131198594
>
> My first thought is some sort of ricer,
> but the holes are too few and far between.

It's definitely a steemer made to go in a pot with the handles on the
outside. We had one when I was a kid. Works great for veggies and
fish.

Desirea

Used to strain cans of old paint.


"Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
...
> Here it is:
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ110131198594
>
> My first thought is some sort of ricer,
> but the holes are too few and far between.

Sheldon wrote:
>
> Spot welding is stronger than rivets, and that it's spot welded
> indicates it's not very old. The fact that it has two handles
> suggests a lot of pressure can be applied, but then the perforated
> disc and supports are only thin sheet metal so the construction is
> actually rather flimsy, regardless of how fastened. We are only
> assuming it's used for food, somehow though I doubt it.

Those are good observations. Do you dispute the
assertion that it is a vegetable/fish steamer?

I'm a bit skeptical about the steamer idea because
of the handles. I'd expect a steamer to have no
handles, except for extensions to grab the sides
of the pot. If anything, I'd expect one handle,
for lifting the device + payload out of the pot.
I don't see any reason a steamer would have two
handles.