And if you’ve ever stumbled over an odd metal clamp with the sleek, rounded tips (it’s the pincer grip, among crabs), well, that is a relic of ice cream parlors gone by. The implement is essentially a retro ice cream dipper, what we employ here to make these cookies. This gadget, often referred to as a retro ice cream scoop, is an integral part of one of the best-loved treats of all time. More precisely: a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone.

In earlier times, dippers like these made it possible to dip a scoop of ice cream into a silken bath of melted chocolate. I held my breath as I watched the ‘liquid’ chocolate instantly harden around the ice cream. It formed a sweet, snappy shell. It’s a simple, but useful system. The tool could be enclosed on the cone, meaning servers could dip the entire section without making a mess. They did not need to worry about the scoop falling off. A quick dip in the chocolate and the cone went straight to a happy customer.

This retro ice cream scoop brings back fond memories of when people made treats like this by hand. And naturally, in the age of the internet, it’s much easier to do these things. Still, isn’t there something appealing about doing it the hands-on way? Tools like these once required real effort. The sight of this oddity still working as intended—and selling for just 25 cents (after currency conversion) in a charity shop—is a heartwarming anomaly. In that way, it’s a great find for collectors and an ideal tool for sentimental cooks.