unusual and old, but what?

[kxxr]

I ran across this thingamajig on another site and thought you all might enjoy seeing it. They weren't just messing around when they made this. It's a beauty for sure.

[jimwrench]

 Nut cracker ?

[ray]

Would that be a bottle capper?

Ray

[kxxr]

It looks to me like it is made to pull apart rathter than push.

[Branson]

It's for pulling something for sure.  If it has a beverage connection, my wag would be for withdrawing corks from wine bottles.  The handle of a corkscrew would fit nicely into the lifting hooks, and the bottle  would rest under the wachamacallits on the bottom.

[walker]

could it be for raising a shutter or blind?

[gibsontool]

I think Branson is on the right track

[Stoney]

I think Branson is right.  I vote for wine cork puller,

[BruceS]

Here is a definitive answer.

http://www.beveragefactory.com/images/tn2_large_peugeot-cremaillere100509135906.jpg

[kxxr]

You got it. Kind of disappointing though, I was hoping for something more interesting.

[rusty]

OK, it is really a secret mafia torture device used on the fingers of informants in back alleys of Brrrklyn New york ; P

It is interesting tho, think of the poor slob working in a resturant, opening 50 bottles a night one by one with a corkscrew. This machine would be his sweetest dream come true...

[kxxr]

I was thinking torture device too. way more better.

[Branson]

Here is a definitive answer.
http://www.beveragefactory.com/images/tn2_large_peugeot-cremaillere100509135906.jpg

And a second example...

[Branson]

You got it. Kind of disappointing though, I was hoping for something more interesting.

yeah, disappointing.  Just pack it up and send it to me.