It looks like a very inefficient splatter guard. But I actually have no idea. If you're very curious and don't get an answer here, write to Cook's Illustrated. People write to the magazine editors asking them to identify their old gadgets.

A potato grater for pancakes or kloesse (knoedel.) here is a modern equivalent:

http://www.casa.com/p/kuchenprofi-potato-grater-shredder-268939?site=CA&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc_C&utm_term=ZPV-6862&utm_campaign=GoogleAW&CAWELAID=1309111526&utm_content=pla&adtype=pla&cagpspn=pla

potato grater. My grandmother had one.

It looks somewhat like a spaetzle maker.

May be something to keep fish over grill?? Just an idea..

My mom had one of these, and if I remember correctly, we used it to 'grate' eggs for egg salad or the like.

fish grill

You convinced me. It looks exactly the same!

Yes, it is a potato grater

I second the spaetzle maker!

Potato grater. The holes are too big for spaetzle.

You guys! Thank you so much for your suggestions. I got a few other ones on my blog's FB page and am planning on writing up a post wiht all of them combined.

Because this tool is super rusty I'm not planning on using it as anything but decoration, but I'm still fascinated by all of your ideas. THANK YOU!

It is the manual way to grade potatoes (be prepared to sweat). My friends grandmother passed down two of them to him, which we used to grade 10 lbs of potatoes for a Lithuanian dish called 'Kugelis'. Lithuanians claim it is the true way to grade potatoes. In my personal opinion, they are right. Comparing this grader to a food processor, the grader wins.

I'm extremely jealous you found it as they are rare.

This isn't a guess or suggestion, I know for a fact =) If you're interested in making something with it, contact me and I'll give you a very old 5 lbs Kugelis recipe.

That is a fish grill still used nowadays to grill small fish. You have bigger ones for bigger fishes

I use this potato grater every week to make potato kugel

Safety grater. http://www.kitchenworksinc.com/Flat--Wire-Safety-Grater__914150.aspx

If you need one, you can get it here: http://www.kitchenworksinc.com/Flat--Wire-Safety-Grater__914150.aspx
If you search for "safety grater" anywhere instead of "potato grater" you'll find them more easily.

Tater grater. But it's got multiple uses. Great for making egg salad (as mentioned above). I also use it to make perfect blue cheese crumbles for my salads.

a potato grater like my grandmother had -- makes the best latkes, with texture far better than either box graters or processers; for a runner up though, check out my method of combining shredded and pureed potatoes: http://alandivack.blogspot.com/2009/12/absolute-best-latke-recipe.html

yep, this is the kind of grater my mom uses for latkes and kugels. means that it's impossible for me to replicate the texture of her fried potato goodness when i make my own without this kind of grater...but i'm ok with that.

Cooling rack :)

Fly swatter! Tennis racquet! Gold sifter! Bubble maker! Child spanker! Okay, kidding. Yes, the potato grater folks are correct. My mother had one too. But oh the fun you could have with all the other ideas.

Funny that there's another one pictured in the site you linked to for pistachio chai muffins

@cara_mia you are so right! I just clicked on the link and saw it. way cool!

My mom uses it to grate bread (unsliced sandwich loaves) for stuffing at Thanksgiving. That's the only thing I've ever seen one used for.

My Jewish chef friend says that's what you use to grate potatoes for the best latkes EVAR!

It's a bread toaster.... am I the only one that watches Extra Virgin on the Cooking Channel?

♥ you guys! I summarized all the answers here http://www.mangotomato.com/2013/02/name-this-mystery-kitchen-tool.html