What am I???

[stanley62]

I covered up the patent date. It is just too easy if you have that.  I also only shot one side, because a Google search of the name and place on the other side lead you right to the patent.
Any ideas?

  Jim

[Bus]

Bunion stretcher for your shoe.

[lbgradwell]

LOL! I'd never have guessed that.

[stanley62]

You are too good Bus!!!  Shoe strecher. Pat 591492 Oct 12 1897.  Goes along with Jimwrench's bunion strecher he posted recently.  I may have to add it to his collection!

  Jim

[jimwrench]

  You have the long handled one. I thought the short handle was older but your patent is 20 years before short handle patent.

[Billman49]

see: http://outils-anciens.xooit.fr/t4177-Pince-a-naseaux-ou.htm?q=brevet for more images

[HeelSpur]

see: http://outils-anciens.xooit.fr/t4177-Pince-a-naseaux-ou.htm?q=brevet for more images

Don't know what that says in that link but the 7th word in the first post says "Torture".
Then I scrolled down and saw the shoe. Had me wondering for just a second,lol.

[rusty]

pince - pliers
naseaux - nose

>Cela ressemble à un instrument de torture, genre dénoyauteur à grosses cerises

It looks like a torture device, ; large cherry pitter


and it *does* look like a torture device LOL!

[Mel Larsen]

Years ago when I was working as a lineman building power-line, I worked for guy who had a crippled little toe.  He had a device just like the one shown and he would have to work over his boots almost every day to enlarge the area where his little toe fit the boot.   He later had the toe removed. 
Mel

[Provincial]

It is a tool for castrating livestock.  The ball forces the testicle through the ring, crushing it.  Very cruel, and now replaced by "elastrator" bands, which look like o-rings and cut off circulation to the scrotum, which withers away and falls off.

[amertrac]

Years ago when I was working as a lineman building power-line, I worked for guy who had a crippled little toe.  He had a device just like the one shown and he would have to work over his boots almost every day to enlarge the area where his little toe fit the boot.   He later had the toe removed. 
Mel

Mel  It is good to see another lineman on here, I worked for a power company for thirty three years . started digging ditches by hand and ended up supervisor of hazard materials .In between
I bid jobs to increase pay. Was a appliance installer ,heavy equipment operator ,lineman,gas maintenance .stores. I even filled in for the night janitor when he was sick .I have started a collection of highline stick tools converted into medival hand weapons .  bob w.