Picked it up at an estate sale. The can (reservoir) holds a pint. Evidence shows that heat has been applied to the cast pipe cap, which is connected only to the tube running inside the length of the 1" pipe; apparently a simple heat-exchanger. The water(?) in the reservoir would flow out the bottom, into the pipe surrounding the tube from the heated head; as it got warmer it would flow back into the reservoir near the top. There is no safety valve or any kind of pressure relief mechanism. The lower end of the heated-tube is open to atmosphere.
Maybe: the pipe-cap/tube gets filled with water, along with the reservoir. The heat applied boils the water in the cap, allowing steam to flow through the tube within the pipe, which would condense and drip out the open end; reservoir water would absorb heat from the condensing process until the 'boiler' ran dry, at which time the process would halt?
Question is, what purpose does this contraption serve? There is an illegible label on the reservoir side, no help. No maker's mark or other information on any part. Cant be very old, as the reservoir has a 'kid-proof' plastic ring affixed to the cap.
I'm hopeful one of you good folks has experience with this device, and can share that wisdom. I'm stumped. Thanks! wlw
PS: There should be 5 pics (all small file size); my preview doesn't show them. If they aren't in this post, I'll try a pictures-only reply.
