SC - Weird but cool kitchen gadgets

[Philip & Susan Troy]

Gwynydd of Culloden wrote:
 
> It comes pre-sliced - in fact, I have a strange, tall, rectangular container
> which contains a pull-up strainer specifically for beetroot.  One pulls the
> strainer up and the liquid drains off the beetroot to make getting it out
> easier. *smile*

This got me thinking... what do people have in the way of obscure,
[apparently] one-of-a-kind kitchen gadgets, preferably odd designs,
mysteriously obscure functions, and perhaps inherited or bought
second-hand without instructions?

For my entry, I think I'll submit my weird little one-cup espresso
maker, which has an enlarged base designed to hold a demitasse cup (yes,
that _is_ redundant), with little curved nozzles to squirt the coffee
into the cup, with the whole contrivance sitting on the burner of the
stove. 

As a backup entry I may mention my recent acquisition of a 1950's glass
cocktail carafe, with markers indicating the levels to which the gin,
vermouth, etc, are to be added for various formulae, and a shaker top.
Very mod, sounds of early cool jazz in the background.

I actually have several crateloads of this kind of thing, stuff too
bizarre to keep in my kitchen cabinets for everyday use.
 
Anybody else?
- -- 
Phil & Susan Troy

troy at asan.com