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November 20, 2025
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I’m a collector, but largely of household items. This was sold to me as an ice cream scoop. I believe I have searched quite well and have found nothing. No references to ice cream scoops, no patents from Winchester or for this design of a scoop, and many experts have been left scratching their heads. I’m hoping to find a 1926–27 store catalog to see if this item is in there as well as other kitchen items, but does anyone recognize this? Is it some kind of a munitions or cannon (signal) loader?
May 23, 2009
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Never seen one before. And if it wasn’t for the roll die marking on it, I wouldn’t have thought it to be a Winchester product.
I don’t think its necessarily a Ice Cream Scoop. Honestly not certain what it is for and needs some research.
Looks well made. Based on the markings I would tend to agree that it is a Post-1920 era product.
Interesting to say the least.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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August 27, 2014
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What does the finger lever do?
Just a guess…used to press hamburger patties or dough
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November 20, 2025
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Tedk said
What does the finger lever do?
Just a guess…used to press hamburger patties or dough
It presses the little circular plunger down.
September 19, 2014
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I for sure am not aware what it is. I will say it reminds me of my .22 blank firing dummy launcher for training retrievers. By any chance does the spring have enough umph to toss a dummy? Squeeze the lever, goes over center and then the plunger pops? Wild guess, but I don’t buy it being an ice cream scoop. Tim
November 19, 2006
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That is interesting. I’ve never seen the likes of it. I guess an ice cream scoop is as good idea as anything I can think of. It seem it would work for that – just press it straight in the ice cream and then press the plunger to drop it into a bowl. Give it a try 
March 21, 2011
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I haven’t seen one of these but my money says it’s a biscuit or cookie cutter.
December 9, 2002
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Just for the heck of it I took a look in the Winchester Rarities book by Tom Webster, and I didn’t see anything that even suggests or resembles anything like this, and I glanced at the many advertising colorful pictures that showed many kitchen items mainly being utensils and the likes.
Many good guesses here, as I am not sure either way. The grooves in the base that pushes whatever product that would be put into the round canister, certainly make sense. Looks like the spring on the handles lever has been replaced with a more modern looking newer spring.
I also agree with the post 1920 era, as that’s seems to be when most of the home goods Winchester was making, and putting out on the market.
There was an article a few years ago in the Winchester Collector, available to members, as I would think that gentleman who replicated a Winchester store with all kinds of stuff, might have an idea.
You might want to contact Gary & Jennifer Gole, @ http://www.crookedrivertrading.com, or send them an email, as I’m sure they’re busy with this weekends, OGCA, show, but they’re pretty good at getting back to people within the next week after the show, upon their return. They know about as much if not more than most, about these type of things.
Anthony
November 20, 2025
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Anthony said
Just for the heck of it I took a look in the Winchester Rarities book by Tom Webster, and I didn’t see anything that even suggests or resembles anything like this, and I glanced at the many advertising colorful pictures that showed many kitchen items mainly being utensils and the likes.
Many good guesses here, as I am not sure either way. The grooves in the base that pushes whatever product that would be put into the round canister, certainly make sense. Looks like the spring on the handles lever has been replaced with a more modern looking newer spring.
I also agree with the post 1920 era, as that’s seems to be when most of the home goods Winchester was making, and putting out on the market.
There was an article a few years ago in the Winchester Collector, available to members, as I would think that gentleman who replicated a Winchester store with all kinds of stuff, might have an idea.
You might want to contact Gary & Jennifer Gole, @ http://www.crookedrivertrading.com, or send them an email, as I’m sure they’re busy with this weekends, OGCA, show, but they’re pretty good at getting back to people within the next week after the show, upon their return. They know about as much if not more than most, about these type of things.
Anthony
Thank you so much for the detailed reply. I finally received this item in the mail today. I will be taking more photos that show measurements and also calculate the volume of what would be an ice cream bowl if it is an ice cream scoop, to see if the volume makes sense. These types of scoops, when used for ice cream or food, were used to save money and control portion sizes, so it should be a fairly common volume (I would think). It’s not made for someone with small hands. I have fairly large hands and usually wear size XL gloves and it’s just comfortable for me.
Did you happen to look at the 1926-27 catalog?
December 9, 2002
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I don’t happen to have that catalog, but maybe this will help, as the Cornell publications have reprinted catalogs and such.
https://cornellpubs.com/?s=Winchester
Maybe contacting these people as I was mentioning them earlier. David and Jane Kruse.
https://lakelifeokoboji.com/2023/12/12/winchester-store-museum/
Anthony
November 20, 2025
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Thank you Anthony for the suggestion to reach out to The Winchester Store Museum. I have sent them an email.
I also received this item today and have taken additional photos, including photos showing dimensions, and they have also been uploaded to the Dropbox link on my original post.
The entire tool seems to be just under 10″ long with 4″ from the edge of the post to the end of the lever. The bowl just over 2.5″ in diameter and 1 5/8″ in deep and the thickness of the bowl is just under 2 mm when using my thickness gauge. The interior dimensions of the bowl 2.5″ x 1 3/16″ and would hold about 3.5 fluid ounces, if my math is correct. 3.5 oz is a common ice cream serving size.
November 20, 2025
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steve004 said
That is interesting. I’ve never seen the likes of it. I guess an ice cream scoop is as good idea as anything I can think of. It seem it would work for that – just press it straight in the ice cream and then press the plunger to drop it into a bowl. Give it a try
It does work. I did actually try it. It would work better in a big container of ice cream rather than the pint I tried it on. There are similar ice cream scoop designs, but not this brand.
November 20, 2025
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Darrin Smith said
I haven’t seen one of these but my money says it’s a biscuit or cookie cutter.
That would definitely be interesting. As far as the volume it could make a 3.5 oz patty, which I’m not sure is all that normal of a size for a hamburger patty. The volume could be right for a cookie? I don’t know. Personally I like big cookies.
November 20, 2025
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steve004 said
That is interesting. I’ve never seen the likes of it. I guess an ice cream scoop is as good idea as anything I can think of. It seem it would work for that – just press it straight in the ice cream and then press the plunger to drop it into a bowl. Give it a try
I did give it a try in a pint of ice cream and it does work just fine. I could imagine it working much better in a larger ice cream container. 3.5 oz is a pretty common size for ice cream portioning.
November 7, 2015
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Y’all are gonna make me pick up some ice cream on my next grocery run. My scoop is likely older than I but probably not 1920’s. I think the plunger is a nice feature for a food service application but not so sure about home use. The problem here is Winchester certainly made some stuff for their stores that we’ve never seen or heard of. I would have bought it!
Mike
March 20, 2010
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I like the biscuit cutter concept, but how would you take it apart to clean it if you get dough behind the cylinder.
Was thinking more of a mechanical or industrial use like packing grease in bearing or cylinder, bearing or race seater or for seating coil springs or something. The grooves inside perform a purpose of some kind, and the tool is hand operated so there isnt a demand for power beyond hand operation. There are tons of images of antique and vintage kitchen/cooking tools that would be more practical for a kitchen purpose than this gadget.
Perplexing.
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December 9, 2002
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I’m having a hard time seeing this as an Ice Cream Scooper, as a few other members have stated also. For example I’ll post a supposedly vintage 1920’s era, Ice Cream Scoop on ebay, if that’s the correct date, for comparison, that in my opinion, by design, that most of us are familiar with, seems a lot more practical.
I have a hard time seeing this round cylindrical tube being used for Ice Cream, as to me people we’re a little more inventive or creative, back in the day, or at least a little more practical.
Anthony
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