This was in the "everything for a dollar bin".
Got it out of curiosity as usual.
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j368/wvabe/010.jpg?t=1354566678)
it's a ratcheting tube nut wrench. after a tube nut is loosend with a line wrench those are used to speed up removal.
They are also called flare nut wrenches. Imperial Chicago made one very similar in construction to your Herbrand.
I would have never guessed that it was a flare nut wrench, thanks guys.