15 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

I've always just used a spoon or knife handle, then my finger nails; probably just as sanitary. I'm just a simple guy though without a butler.

 

For the life of me I cannot imagine why the average home maker would need a tool to de-shell an egg. Perhaps with the right method with the tool that Dan provided, it was super fast in the restaurant industry back in the day?

You know, in the Victorian Era they had all kinds of whacky gadgets to "make life easier".

How about this oyster opener!

 

Oyster Opener, Adolph Aubert, Nantes, France, 1852. Single-purpose gadgets, like this sturdy oyster opener, were on the rise, as hosts of dinner parties were judged on their fanciful kitchen tools. The National Archives, London, England 2014. © 2014 Crown Copyright

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, John Morris said:

 

For the life of me I cannot imagine why the average home maker would need a tool to de-shell an egg.

 

 

 

Ever tried to get the shell off a soft boiled egg? it's not that easy and I always use a tool...but that's usually a spoon. I peel open the small end and use the spoon to scoop it out. I'd jump on the chance to have something that woks better.....I love soft boiled eggs. Hard boiled eggs are a piece of cake, though.

38 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

 

Ever tried to get the shell off a soft boiled egg? it's not that easy and I always use a tool...but that's usually a spoon. I peel open the small end and use the spoon to scoop it out. I'd jump on the chance to have something that woks better.....I love soft boiled eggs. Hard boiled eggs are a piece of cake, though.

I hadn't thought of that Fred, I guess it's cuz I don't eat soft boiled. But ya I get your point. Given that fact, I'm still trying to figure out how those spikes help in peeling an egg? I know what Dan is showing is correct, but I just don't see how it was used at this point.

On 6/14/2023 at 6:23 AM, HandyDan said:

 

Something to do with bundling a wheat sheaf came to mind for me also.

 

 

This makes the most sense.

58 minutes ago, John Morris said:

I hadn't thought of that Fred, I guess it's cuz I don't eat soft boiled. But ya I get your point. Given that fact, I'm still trying to figure out how those spikes help in peeling an egg? I know what Dan is showing is correct, but I just don't see how it was used at this point.

 

The top part of the shell is removed and the egg is eaten out of the shell.  Probably used in the fancy restaurants.

 

 

 

I was wondering how it worked.....I usually dump my soft boiled eggs onto the toast or has browns on my plate.

Interesting info you've provided Dan.  That would make our tool a two man job to cut the egg shell... unless the egg was held in place real good...

As for the wheat sheafs, I see no reason for the spikes, or even a tool like this - but then I've never bundled wheat either

On 6/13/2023 at 11:42 PM, HandyDan said:

I hope it is not the clandestine torture device like it seems to portray.

 

Vee have vays uv making you talk.

To quote Robin Williams...."That sob stole my line.."

On 6/17/2023 at 8:52 AM, Cal said:

That would make our tool a two man job to cut the egg shell... unless the egg was held in place real good...

 

If the item is small enough to prepare an egg with and it took two men to operate it I would suggest they go to the gym.  I assume the tool is used to perforate the egg not actually cut it leaving a more concentric line to crack the end off.  I'm sure one man could do the job with the egg sitting in some of the vessels also shown.

7 hours ago, HandyDan said:

and it took two men to operate it I would suggest they go to the gym.

 

Me too Dan!  I was merely commenting on the handles having a design like a hedge clipper, not egg-zactly a good design to operate with one hand

@John Morris Did you turn this in for consideration?