What is it - Object 49?

[JennyLeez]

This is old.
To do with food.

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[Babs]

An old cake icing gadget

[intrepid]

A timer....?

[Babs]

A turkey baster

[Valerie]

Babies rattle that plays a tune when you wind it up.

[JennyLeez]

and what has that got to do with food....lol
Try again Val

[TokWW]

A spark generator for lighting gas rings?

[JennyLeez]

None of the above.

You have the clue food.
2nd clue: Used in preparation of food.

[Babs]

A revolving meat thermometer

[Valerie]

You stick it in the meat and when the centre is cooked this machine will play a merry tune!!!!!!!!! I still think it looks like an old baby rattle.

[Witty Username]

Had to leap on this as my first post - Seeing as we had one in the house when I was a wee 'un.

That would be a clockwork "jack" for roasting small meats.  If my feeble memory serves me correctly, it hung over the fire and had a light rack arrangement suspended from it upon which you dangled chooks etc  - looks similar styling to the one I remember so I'm going for Victorian.

...In my youthful innocence and curiosity, I overwound ours and broke the spring!

[JennyLeez]

Yep Witty is completely right