Growing up my Grandfather taught metal shop at the local highschool. He made everything from machine parts to some of my cousin's wedding rings! The man was amazing and although he's gone now, a very special part of him remains in my kitchen. More specifically in my utensil drawer!
When my Grandfather passed away, we moved my Grandmother to a location that would be easier for her to get around without help in. The next several weeks were spent helping pack her belongings and sharing in millions of memories had in their home that was hand-built by my Grandfather when my Mother was just a baby.
During my childhood we would spend our weekends going to Grandma and Grandpa's to partake in a few games of Parcheesi and eventually eating a bowl of ice cream with Grandpa. I used to watch his strong hands wield the scoop with what seemed like magic. Even the hardest of ice cream was no match for his strength.
Later on down the line when this ice cream scoop came into my possession, I learned that although my Grandfather was in fact strong, he wasn't as strong as I had once thought. The ice cream scoop that he had made so many years ago, before I was born even, literally cuts through ice cream like it was softened butter. With every twist of the wrist it slices through even the hardest of frozen desserts like it was made of fire, melting as it sliced.
Since owning it, I've discarded all other ice cream scoops as nothing quite compares to the uncanning physics built into this scoop. Although my Grandfather taught thousands of children over his lifetime skills that would allow them to provide for a family, I know he would have made a fortune selling this small scoop to the masses as nothing available to retail even comes close to it's level of perfection. Now each bowl served up in my kitchen is done with a little extra love. I hope you all someday have a piece like this in your kitchen as it brings new meaning to the food you serve to family and friends!
Related: Dig In: Best Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Scoops
(Image: Sarah Rae Trover)
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Looks awesome! I found a similar one on Etsy for $4. Probably doesn't come close to your Grandpa's original though.
I assume that was the model he made it after as they were quite popular at the time. He made slight adjustments to thicknesses in some places which is what makes it work even better!
I have one that looks identical and it is also older than me - we never use it thoug, after 35 years of use, it began turning the icecream grey
I have a squash reamer for koosa that my great great uncle made that my grandmother gave me when I finally had my own kitchen. Cooking can be such a family connecting thing to begin with and having kitchen implements that have been passed down make it even more so.
uncanning??? i think you mean uncanny.
Interesting that your Grandfather would have made the handle ridges exactly the same way as the mass-produced version that was sold in stores, and put the 2 circular depressions in EXACTLY the same spot on the handle (that are visible in the first picture) as the mass-produced version that was sold in stores.
I also have one of these ice cream scoops that belonged to my Great-Aunt, and I have a very strong suspicion that your Grandfather bought that scoop. I think the 2 circular depressions on the handle give it away.
I have 2 of these in my drawer, which i received when my grandmother passed away. Nothing else compares. (i also got a wire cooling rack that is probably older than i am, too.)
How cold to try and "debunk" someone's family heirloom! The handmade scoop looks much more solid and sturdy than its mass produced counter part. My guess would be that those "indentions" are simply part of creating the scoop- much as eye glasses usually have screws in the same places.
If this wasn't made by my Grandfather than so be it, but there weren't many metal objects in his home that weren't. Most things he prided himself in remaking... just doing it a little bit better.
Sarah, this post is a lovely portrait of your grandpa. He sounds like he was a wonderful man.
I happen to have my grandpa's ice cream scoop, too. He's been gone a very long time but I think of him every time I use it.
I also have my grandmothers bread knife and corkscrew, which are the same way. I think her every time I use them.
what a lovely item to provide an immediate reminder of your grandpa every time you see it tucked in its drawer or reach for it to scoop up a treat.
It's gorgeous patina can only have come from years of love and use by a man who is very special. It's about as comforting as reaching for your grandpa's hand I'm sure. And no one can take that away from you.
My family has the same one!!!! I have fond memories of my Grandpa making homemade vanilla custard ice cream with the old-school rock salt ice cream maker. We would sit outside the garage and take turns cranking that thing until we felt like our arms would fall off. Totally worth it.
Sorry, oh cynical ones, but looking at the Etsy link, Sarah's scoop is clearly not the same thing. It's sturdier looking, and doesn't have the edges on the side of the handle that mark other scoops as being mass produced.
My dad and uncles ran a general store and I have the ice cream scoop used for dipping cones back in the 40's through early 60's.
I compared it to this and the shape of the bowl is different and the handle has rings all the way down. It says Progressus Taiwan on the handle.
I think Sarah's scoop is made by her Grandpa.
I treasure mine and hers is even more special.
Thanks Kate(NC) and KimberlyRose for the backup! It's so hard to see in the photos the small differences, I appreciate your detective work!