heavy around 20 lbs.
pat. aug 29 99, with horse hair on bottom i think. Waxing floors? It has heavier than broom handle to push around.
I have zero luck looking up patents, thanks 4looking and any help.

hate to have to "swab the deck" with that one.

The manufacturing company for the major parts is irrelevant I think (Emien & Kuhnert Co.). It was likely a steel works company that went out of business or was absorbed by something else long before the internet was around. They like to slap their names on things weather or not it will matter in 50 years.

That is produced (designed, assembled and distributed) by Duplex. Which I believe is still in business and still makes floor burnishers/buffers/waxers/polsihers. Might be one of their earliest productions. It sure is beat though.

These were common in British army bases until the 1960's - yes it's a floor buffer - floors had to be washed, polished and buffed when you left accomodation - you were 'marched in' and 'marched out' of billets... We had to find some for use  a few years ago for a televison programme recreation of National Service, called 'Bad Lads' Army'... The local camp threw out the last ones just before I retired in 2009...