Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

Professional Atlanta, GA on Mar 26, 2012

Does anyone know what this is?

Just turn them upside down and open them, then insert a roll of paper towel and tada, you have yourself a brand new paper towel holder that is not only beautiful, but has history and meaning!

56 Comments Displaying 25 of 56 comments | See Previous

LandlightS Roswell, GA

My father used these as a "milkman" in Buffalo, NY so any years ago for his delivery truck. And I used to get big chips of ice to suck on also

on Mar 28, 2012 · Like 1
Culpepper Carpets and Int... Atlanta, GA

Great memories of simpler times. Thank you all for sharing (:

on Mar 28, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Kevin - well of course Dawlinq!!! LOL : ~ )

on Mar 28, 2012 · Like 0
Dianna S Alexandria, VA

My husband's father was an ice man. It looks like a tool he used to carry blocks of ice.

on Mar 28, 2012 · Like 0
Diane C Providence Forge, VA

Yes, these are ice tongs

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Emily C Houston, TX

For picking up an ice block WAAAAAAY back when :)

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Bill B O Neals, CA

I used a smaller one for toilet paper. Ice tongs.

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
BJ W Graceville, FL

Or to move bails of hay

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Tim B Bonduel, WI

i agree with ice tongs, but I like the idea for toilet paper

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Ginny G Gaston, SC

I have one of them and have wondered for years how much it is worth. I bought mine years ago at my aunts antique store for just a couple dollars. I used it for a paper towel holder too, but it held the towels too tight, had to use both hands to get a piece off. Not real handy. But wouldn't get rid of it.

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Cynthia R Philadelphia, PA

lg ice block holder

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Noreen Y Des Moines, IA

Ice picker-upper.

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Vera D Newnan, GA

An ice picker upper for when they delivered ice for the ice-box.

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Cathy L

Showing my age here! I remember as a kid when the "ice man" came & use these to bring in a big block of ice for our "ice box"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Culpepper Carpets and Int... Atlanta, GA

GINNY, THIS ONE IS NOT TOO TIGHT AND WORKS WELL.

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 1
Christine G League City, TX

ice block hooks. Years ago ice men brought ice to home and put it into the ice box.

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Well Lee Anne, looks like the over-whelming consensus is you've got yourself a genuine antique Charmin or Bounty holder!!! LOL Things like that are so neat though. The sad thing is that my grandkids generation and maybe even our kids wouldn't have a clue!!!

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 0
Carolyn B Coleman, FL

I had an Ice Box when I was a kid and Ice was delivered , they would use the Ice Tongs to carry the ice into the house, lots of drips too.. My Mom was always wiping up behind the ice man.. He would give all the kids a chunk of ice to eat after he was done..Sometimes we would run behind his truck till he stopped and gave us some ice..Good Ole days!!

on Mar 29, 2012 · Like 1
Marylee Clermont, FL

They are antique ice tongs.They were used to pick up blocks of ice for old refrigerators. An ice wagon would travel the neighborhoods selling and delivering the blocks.

on Mar 30, 2012 · Like 1
Naomi J Atlanta, GA

I use one of these as a paper towel holder in a cabin, its fun to re-purpose.

on Mar 30, 2012 · Like 0
Smokey E Watertown, MA

These are ice tongs, for carrying block ice from the lake to the ice house in the "old days".

on Apr 08, 2012 · Like 0
Phil Bauman Louisburg, NC

Except for us city slickers, who had the ice toted up from a truck to the ice box.

on Apr 08, 2012 · Like 0
Culpepper Carpets and Int... Atlanta, GA

I actually have an old oak ice box. It must weigh 200 pounds. I will take a photo and post it.

on Apr 09, 2012 · Like 1
Barbara C

probably ice tongs from the days when "ice boxes" really were ice boxes,lol

on Jun 06, 2012 · Like 0
Pat Anderson, SC

Looks like the ice tongs that were used when you got ice in blocks from an ice house back in the day.

on Jun 06, 2012 · Like 0