What are these tongs for ??

[blkcloud]

I got them a few years ago to drag logs with... But as you can see the points are straight across from each other and will not even begin to grab a log.. I tried sharpening them but they just won't work .. Any idea what they were made for ?

 

[madjoe]

They sure do look like skidding tongs but with out any bend above the points. I'm not sure what they would be used for.

 

[zogger]

I got them a few years ago to drag logs with... But as you can see the points are straight across from each other and will not even begin to grab a log.. I tried sharpening them but they just won't work .. Any idea what they were made for ?

Maybe they are just so old they got worn down or broken, someone resharpened them and lost the hook. Perhaps just get them re welded to the correct hook.

 

[CrufflerJJ]

I'd guess old ice tongs.

 

[Bryce c tyrrell]

Absolutely old ice block tongs.

 

[cornfused]

Definately ooold ice tongs. My dad used a set just like 'em when I was a kid to drag ice blocks off of our spring pond in the winter.

 

[Bryce c tyrrell]

The points are straight across because the block weren't very big so they could fit in the small iceboxes

 

[blkcloud]

I always thought ice tongs had a couple of handles .. Not a hook for a chain.. ??

 

[babybart]

I always thought ice tongs had a couple of handles .. Not a hook for a chain.. ??

Depends if your moving huge ice blocks that last the summer in a cold box or just fish house ice blocks that last a day.

 

[blkcloud]

These spread open to about 20"

 

[farmer steve]

i have some ice tongs.i'll check them out and see what the points look like.

 

[Ironworker]

Railroad ties.

 

[MechanicMatt]

Numa could be on to something...... My first guess was ice tongs, but the squared sides of a RR tie??? Maybe.......

 

[TMFARM 2009]

i agree, ice tongs.
too big for sugar cubes!

 

[Deleted member 83629]

for pinching the wife's butt

 

[alleyyooper]

Used by rail roaders to carry and place rail road ties. Usually a handle so a man could be on each side and 4 men total with 2 of the tongs. There are like cars and trucks different configurations of them.

Check them out.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=railroad+tie+tongs

Ice tongs like rail road tongs come in different configurations, some even fit the ones in the picture. Years ago before fridge's Men would go out on lakes with saws and cut huge blocks of ice and use tong like in the above picture to haul those huge blocks to shore with a team of horses. to be cut smaller and stacked at a Ice house and covered with saw dust insulation.

Reinactment 2013 NH.

Check them out.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=ice+tongs

Al

 

[blades]

The last Ice house storage unit( from the old days) I am aware of went up in smoke about 3 years ago. Heck of a bonfire. Before I moved my shop some 17 years ago I had about a dozen huge Harvester chains hanging on the wall, about 8ft loops, these were used out on Lake Michigan to cut large blocks of ice. Up until about 5 years ago I was still making specialty bars and loops for a firm here in town for a a machine that would cut 50#blocks down to 1/2 and 1/4's, Those went to the places for various shaved Ice drinks,snow cones and such.

 

[babybart]

Homesteaders still use ice houses but on a smaller scale. Usually cut into a hillside facing north or east and still use sawdust as installation.

 

[olympyk_999]

use sawdust as installation

saw dust installs the ice?...how?

 

[alleyyooper]

Hey give a guy a break we can't all be spelling bee champs investment banker making millions a year or brain surgeons. Some of us are just plain old county folks and manage to raise a family and get by. Some of us are able to siper what is meant too.

Al