It’s a scene many of us have experienced: digging through a cluttered kitchen drawer only to uncover a strange, unfamiliar object. One such mystery that often sparks curiosity is a small yellow, comb-like item with long metal prongs, possibly marked “Made in Hong Kong” with a hole at one end. If you’ve found one of these, you’re not alone—and yes, there’s a good chance it’s not just a random piece of junk.
Let’s break down what it likely is—and where it comes from.
Description Recap
The object in question typically has the following features:
- Small, plastic yellow handle
- Several long metal prongs extending in a straight row
- A hole at one end (possibly for hanging or attaching to something)
- Stamp or engraving that says “Made in Hong Kong”
At first glance, it resembles a miniature rake or an odd grooming tool. But it’s none of those.
The Most Likely Identity: A Vintage Corn on the Cob Holder or Cleaning Tool
The item you’re describing is very likely a vintage corn-on-the-cob cleaning tool or kernel remover—a kitchen gadget that was more common in the 1960s through 1980s.
🟡 Why It Looks Like That:
- The long metal prongs were designed to slide along a cob of corn to help remove kernels cleanly.
- The yellow plastic handle is easy to grip, and the hole at one end is for hanging on a kitchen hook or attaching a key ring.
- The “Made in Hong Kong” stamp fits the manufacturing origin of many mass-produced plastic household goods during that era—especially between the 1960s and early 1980s, before manufacturing shifted more heavily to mainland China.
Some variations of this tool were also sold as butter spreaders for corn, where the prongs could hold a pat of butter to roll over hot corn evenly, though that’s less common.
Alternative Possibilities
While a corn tool is the most likely, a few other vintage kitchen or crafting items might look similar:
- Meat Tenderizer Comb
Used to score or tenderize meat surfaces before marinating. - Cake Decorating Tool
Used for combing icing into patterns—though these usually have plastic or shorter teeth. - Hair Dye Tool (Less Likely)
Some early home hair dye kits included comb-like applicators—but the metal prongs make this less plausible for use near the scalp.
Why You Might Find It Today
- Vintage Kitchen Tools: Many of these items were inexpensive and mass-produced, so they ended up in households across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
- Passed Down Through Generations: You may have inherited it without realizing—tucked away with other utensils.
- Decluttered Drawers and Estate Sales: Items like these often resurface during deep cleaning or when sorting through older relatives’ belongings.
Should You Keep It?
If you like collecting retro kitchen gadgets or enjoy vintage kitchen decor, it’s a neat piece to hold onto. Otherwise, it might make a fun conversation piece, or even a quirky repurposed item for art or crafts.
If you’re ever curious about other vintage tools, snapping a photo and uploading it to online forums like Reddit’s r/whatisthisthing or checking vintage catalogs on eBay can help verify your find.
Final Thought
That strange yellow comb with metal prongs isn’t just a random oddity—it’s a small piece of kitchen history. Whether it was used to strip kernels, spread butter, or tenderize meat, it reflects a time when even the smallest kitchen task had a specialized tool. Who knew a trip to the junk drawer could turn into a time machine?
