What's-It...Could be a tough one

[Knucklehead]

Got this at an estate sale sale today for fifty cents. I have no idea what it is, or
what it was used for. A half-dozen people asked me about it while I was waiting
to pay.
Would anyone venture a guess?

[skipskip]

looks like the top to an oiler

size?

material?

Skip

[Knucklehead]

The piece is 3.25" in diameter, 3.25" in height, made of brass. The coat hanger looking things
have tiny set screws, and it looks to be adjustable just above the base. There is no makers
mark or any way for oil to flow through it. The base is backed by solid brass, can't be a
reservoir.
I'm thinking maybe a jewelers' or clock makers jig of some kind.

[Yadda]

The sure made some interesting paper weights back in the day. 

[oldgoaly]

I was staring at this and thinking they had different threads or wires could they be making something decorative? So nothing came to mind with wire but thread? crocheting?  But this one is uber fancy compared to ones shown on the net. So someone most likely a machinist made this for his wife to keep her busy so he could have more time at the corner tavern? or his girl friend?
 

[Knucklehead]

I sprayed it with kitchen cleaner to remove the grime, rinsed it off and found F S and A R stamped
on the coin shaped disks. Could it mean Fast-Slow  Advance-Retard; clock or watch makers jig?
The rod running through the disks and post has very fine thread for micro adjustment, and the
top of the post is slotted vertically and horizontally.
As Yadda said, it makes an interesting paper weight!

[kwoswalt99]

Looks like a nice piece of scrap brass to me.

[rustyfordgarage]

I was staring at this and thinking they had different threads or wires could they be making something decorative? So nothing came to mind with wire but thread? crocheting?  But this one is uber fancy compared to ones shown on the net. So someone most likely a machinist made this for his wife to keep her busy so he could have more time at the corner tavern? or his girl friend?

It sure looks like it ought to braid strands of something. The six outer "hooks" are all different height with a ring on every other piece.  Or are each set of three at the same height?

[bill300d]

Wonder if its to hold a ball of string. The top looks like it is slotted to accept something of that sort. I seem to remember something similar holding string to wrap packages sitting on the counter at the corner store back when I was knee high to a grasshopper.

[oldgoaly]

Are the two studs sticking up and the two probes insulated from the body/base of the piece?
A couple of electronics/ham radio guys are thinking a spark gap transmitter or maybe a Tesla coil experiment?

[Papaw]

Could it be part of the clockworks in a Grandfather Clock?

Or an antique gimbal?

[oldgoaly]

Someone told me it could be a woolly mammouth deterrent system.
When is the last time you saw a woolly mammouth? Works pretty good!
I have it on my Facebook page looking for help.

[JoeCB]

Are the two studs sticking up and the two probes insulated from the body/base of the piece?
A couple of electronics/ham radio guys are thinking a spark gap transmitter or maybe a Tesla coil experiment?.... that was my thought too.

Is it ALL brass or are some parts insulated?

Joe B

[Catch22!]

There appear to be flats on both sides of the rod.  When it turns, what does it do?

[Knucklehead]

Thanks for the responses!

Been away from the computer for a few days. I'll try to answer all questions and comments.
I don't think it's a string dispenser, it's too small. It's made of all brass, but the base may be
plated. There is no insulation of any kind to be seen. The rod has very fine threads, and the
ends have a four-flat thing (looks like a micro wrench will turn it), which will move the disks
in very small increments. There is no visible hookups for electricity, but it would be worth a
ton if it was associated with Tesla.
So far the Wooly Mammoth theory is the best guess.