1 Answer

Block ice tongs were also called ring tongs. The two tongs set into a block of ice allowed the handler to pick-up a large block of ice with one hand. A metal ring on tongs would slide over the hinge pin so as to hold the tongs firmly when picked-up, then set the ice down and pull the ring up to the hinge to release the block.

Hundreds of tools have been produced in  black-smith shops globally following this design-method but most of these old tools have been replaced by tools with threaded adjustable fasteners used today. Some of those old tools were easier to use and better in my opinion than some of those nice shiny machined tools we have today. So I make and use my own tools whenever possible.