✅ SOLVED Old Electronic Device of Some Type Found in Grandparents Attic

[mn9000]

This ones got me stumped. I thought for sure this was an old telephone of some sort but I cant find anything anywhere close to it online, and I've googled everything under the sun that is remotely close to "antique telephone". I'm hoping you guys might be able to help me out.


Here's what I can tell by looking at it---

There's an on/off switch at the top right which (I'm assuming) activates the light bulb at the top left. There's a short chain at the bottom right that at may have once been attached to a small speaker unit or ear piece that is possibly missing--- could the hand-chiseled area in the center been the resting spot for the missing speaker unit possibly?

The triangle shaped things that stick out just below the chiseled out area are made up of thin pieces of stacked metal, possibly copper.
Thank you very much in advance to anyone who can offer any insight, I'm at a total loss!

 

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[ToddsPoint]

It looks like some kind of continuity tester. Plug it in with the switch off, insert the item to be tested, then throw the switch. If the light comes on, it's good. Just a guess on my part... Gary

 

[creskol]

It may be something along these lines: https://www.google.com/search?q=ant...uO3gAhWkwFkKHVH3AhgQ_AUIDygC&biw=1706&bih=830

 

[ARC]

Hmmm I hope its not one of those "quack" medical devices.

Electric Viagra. :P

 

[Anduril]

An early intercom? Like a remote buzzer or something?
That triangle-shaped thing is probably a transformer, or two coils back-to-back.
Either arrangement could be used to convey audio.

Edit: I like Mick56's ID better!!
Learn something new every day....

 

[mick56]

Antique armature growler. To test armatures from car and truck starters for shorts.

 

[Tony in SC]

Mick got it!! It could test each winding in the armature of motors by making a growling sound.

Antique armature growler. To test armatures from car and truck starters for shorts.

 

[creskol]

Antique armature growler. To test armatures from car and truck starters for shorts.

Man .. you know some stuff .. That is a great ID!

 

[DCMatt]

Antique armature growler. To test armatures from car and truck starters for shorts.

 

[Lunch Bag]

It reminded me of the Morse Code device used by the German spy in the movie ‘Eye of the Needle’.

Glad it’s been identified and they weren’t communicating with the Rooskies!

 

[cutty]

now you can open your own starter and alternator repair shop! not many left. they use to rebuild those things. Still have a shop here in town that does!

 

[mn9000]

Antique armature growler. To test armatures from car and truck starters for shorts.

Fantastic... Wow, amazing job Mick56!!!

Thank you gentlemen for all the input. Ill mark this thread as officially SOLVED.

Ill have more posts soon though, we are pulling all kinds of strange and interesting things out of the attic this morning.

 

[A2coins]

I was thinking a flux capacitor with the 3 contact points to make 1.21 gigawatts