What is this antique gadget called?

Question

It is silver and almost looks like a lime juice squeezer but the hole is to small. When the two handles are pushed together it measures about 4 " long but when the two handles are pushed apart it measures 8 3/4" long from one handle to the other handle. The hole then closes together like a lemon squeezer. The squeezer part has ten round holes on both sides. The handles are pushing the wrong way to be for a melon ball. Thanks for your help

Answer 1

How big is the basket?  If it is as small as it sounds and only has 10 holes in it, it sounds like a small garlic press.

See if one of these on eBay looks similar:

http://collectibles.search.ebay.com/garl...

Answer 2

Sounds like an old ricer to me.  Can't be sure without the picture though.

Try doing a search on "antique ricer" and see if you can find a pic that matches yours.  They came in a variety of sizes and colors - some with wooden handles etc.