That is a vintage spring wire hot dog / sausage tong (often sold as a “boiling tong” or hot dog retriever).

How it Works

• Closed / Resting State: The spring coil relaxes into a wide barrel shape so you can easily slip it over a hot dog or sausage floating in boiling water or sitting on a grill.
• Squeezed State: As you squeeze the crossover handles together, the spring coil compresses tightly around the hot dog, holding it securely without tearing the skin or poking holes in it.

Common Uses

• Hot Dogs & Sausages: Safely lifting franks out of boiling water or turning them on a grill.
• Boiled Eggs: Retrieving eggs from boiling water.
• Pickles & Corn on the Cob: Grabbing whole pickles out of deep mason jars or lifting hot corn ears.

These clever mechanical gadgets were popular mid-20th-century kitchen novelty tools!