What is it?

[06switchback]

I was given these by my uncle he said that they are for lifting barrels I'm sure they would work but I don't think that was there original purpose especially the bigger one

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[larry_g]

Tongs for picking up something with a crane or hoist.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[txvwnut]

Look more like a pallet grabber.

 

[Roberts210]

Ice tongs.

 

[joe_padavano]

Look more like a pallet grabber.

^^^THIS. The jaws barely open wide enough to grab an ice cube, let alone a big block of ice. These are used to grab wooden pallets and drag them out of a truck.

 

[RTM]

On the right hand one, is the chain removable? someone on FB posted one that was for attaching a pulley to a beam in a barn, and then hooking a pulley on the chain for a temporary hay hoist.

If not removable, and only opens to 2-3" wide, I agree with pallet pullers.

 

[2oolhound]

Pallet tongs makes the most sense but googling Pallet Tongs or Pallet Pullers gets shots of ones without pointed tips. Maybe they evolved to get the flat plates welled on the tips after a time of ruining lots of pallets.

 

[RTM]

The post I saw said this: "Most of the comments were wild guesses about ice tongs, which it obviously was not. Way too small, the chain was never used on those, etc. I just ran across something in a book with this and one more illustration. ----- It is called a "Rafter Grab." It's main purpose and usage was in a barn, as a temporary anchor for a pulley. That in turn was used to hoist or move items with a rope, with one or maybe two men pulling on it. Not meant, obviously, for extremely heavy objects, but on a small farm, where nearly everything was being done by one man and maybe a few family members, it would have been useful."
https://scontent-sjc3-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/54207527_2302908093297468_6536398792344731648_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ohc=baPxXP9koqkAQlSqXkpmm8NvU4u39u-E9OPBcrUOM7ysN6-gfGZXPUH4Q&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.**&oh=73ba1a880cdeccde60b79c2a960eef9d&oe=5E490A42

See a full catalog pic in this ebay ad, bottom center

https://www.ebay.com/itm/310897429889

And an old Sears catalog link (sorry, kind of tiny)
https://books.google.com/books/cont...nB2t7njwBtoDEkTVQzOA&ci=616,333,326,95&edge=0

 

[06switchback]

Thanks for all the response the right one definitely looks like the rafter grab very sharp points looks like it wouldn't slip once a little pressure was applied but the left one I'm still not sure on I'll have to take some better pics of the jaws on that one

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