What is this thing?

[Lynn]

It looks to me that the two pieces are to be used in tandem, one on either side of the spring. But used for what is beyond me. I think it would be equally useless for knitting and crocheting, just like it appears to be useless for tatting. Is there some sort of bobbin lace that could benefit from it? I know it's nothing like a bobbin, but the tension aspect makes me wonder. Although I've never knotted a fish net, I've watched enough fishermen do it, and this contraption would also be quite useless for that. There's no place for it in macrame or Chinese knotting either. Sheesh, now it's driving me nuts. Antiquarian, go smack yourself. I sure hope we get this figured out.

[PattyD]

The piece with the spring seems to be to control letting out more thread from the piece wound with thread. If there are stitches involved and stitches consume thread, then the only way to actually make something with this setup is to let out a length of thread for the triangular piece with a dip for a fingerhold to form stitches. Which is not terribly different than needle tatting off the ball. But that seems like a very contrived illustration. There are a lot of peculiar patents for devices that have such a contorted method of use that they don't seem practical. That this is plastic makes it seem a much more modern device than what the Victorians made. Searching patents would take forever since we don't know what it is called. Hmmm, I like a puzzle, but this could take the rest of my life!

[Lacetatting]

havn't got the slightest clue or idea.....
figured I post so if so finds out I get notified...

[Holly Ann]

It looks like one of my wooden shuttles that fell apart. 2 pieces that need to be glued together. The spring? My best guess is that it would be easier to hold/pinch the thread to begin the wrapping of the thread.

[Lynn]

But the thread seems to go through the spring contraption on the outside, and then passes through a small hole at the back of each plastic piece. It's like no shuttle, disassembled or otherwise, that I've ever seen.