Here's a strange one for you.  Got this at a local auction Saturday and don't have a clue what it is.  Stands about 18-20" tall, very ornate cast iron with Asian symbols in the casting.  Big wheel spins the horizontal disc that has sharp points on it as if to hold a pad, piece of wood or?  Smaller handles adjust height, not sure what the top small handle does.  Any ideas?  Thanks!

My offhand, wild guess would be something for grinding lenses...(My wild guesses are generally wrong tho)

The red painted design on the 3 sides looks like a Japanese/Chinese letter/logo mark?

How tall is this gadget?

My first thought is an ice shaver ?
Graeme

fruit or wine press?


Olive oil?

Here is a modern made one. http://img.21food.com/20110609/product/1305794585187.jpg and here http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/102745/6112122/0/1213269733/Ice_Shaving_Machine.jpg
Graeme

Damn, you guys are good....

And here I thought it was a turd polisher.....a fancy one too!

Huh, never saw one of those before.

Wow, I think you nailed it on the ice shaver!  Never would have guessed.  Thanks a million for all the good feedback!

I remember lots of them around Hawaii, very popular when I was a kid, Hard to find the Vintage Hand crank type now...

I was wondering if this might have a Hawaiian background with the Asian symbols on it.

From what I remember, Big wheel turns the Ice (spikes grab ice, turns ice over a shave blade) Top wheel raise/lowers disc on to ice (to grab it). the other wheel adjust pressure when ice is turned, it feeds down slowly to make course or fine ice shavings... Shave Ice is still very popular in Hawaii.. (started with the large Asian population here.)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAxwts1jLik

Oldtools, Thank you for finding that video clip, We all now know exactly how it works.
Graeme