Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) an Italian.

1938

J. Weidman I Can Get It For You Wholesale 59: To a baloney bender this is what’s known as making a virtue out of a necessity. [Ibid.] 300: Those dumb baloney benders down there.

2. (also bologna bender) one who exaggerates.

1926		Maines & Grant Wise-crack Dict. 5/2: Bologna bender – Thrower of so-called bull.
1999		K. Manno Miracles of May 12: may: Why do you persist in telling that story? fran (Defiant): ’Cause I like it. may (Hands on hips, softening ’tsk’s’): Really, Fran – you baloney bender!