What Is It?

Okay... does anyone know what this is? We have had this in the family for years and have no idea what it is, what it does, or who it came from... I think Grandma had it and I'm not sure what she used it for when she was alive. But whatever it was she used it for was a secret.
So, if you know (and believe me, I don't), could you please let me in on the secret of this instrument? It's made in the UK. That's all it's telling us. We've tried cutting pasta with it with horrible results... sticky pasta everywhere... we've tried using it as an egg slice, but it's not big enough and egg gets everywhere... so please help us solve this instrument's mystery use.

[Netkonnexion]

I think it is a pasta cutter. My grandmother had something very similar. You need to make sure the pasta is quite dry (made from fresh) when you use it or it gets clogged. It is for cutting tagliatelle - the ribbon pasta.

There are also items like it elsewhere on the Internet... http://3dbuilder.net/uploads/AntiquePastaCutter.jpg http://www.cuisine-french.com/cgi/mdc/l/en/boutique/produits/bck-pastabike.html http://walker.photoshelter.com/image/I00005EgfPSoZYpw http://bigmamashomekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/11/grandmas-chicken-and-noodles.html http://pinterest.com/janew/household-weapons/

[Lynda Parker]

@netkonnexion thank you so much! We've had this for so long and not known what to do with it. And thank you so much for the links too. :D

[weslyn hoekstra]

Interesting! with my regular pasta machine, it helps to have the cutters well floured or the pasta dough sticks.

[Lois P]

Great collage.
Check this out http://www.etsy.com/listing/21999013/wood-handled-pasta-cutter
Identical to yours :)

[Lynda Parker]

@loey5150 gotta say... mine's in better condition than the one shown on that link. :)

[bruni]

First I didn't know what it was used for but I remember my mom had one of those. wonder if it wood cut cooked spinish if you squeeze the water out to make it more dry... great picture.... I bet lots of 365 might not have ever seen one.