First Post - What is this thing?

[bob95065]

I found this board using a Google search and joined right away.  I have a friend that sent me pictures of a mystsrey tool.  We don't know what this this or what is was designed to do.

Any help is appreciated.

[humber2]

See if Dobbie McInnes indicator is a match.

[Northwoods]

Pre-electronic age gadget to analyze a variety of gases.

[oldgoaly]

Bacharach made flue gas testing devices, could be for boiler or steam engine?

[JohnD]

Search eBay or google for "steam engine indicator". It was hooked to the valve gear & cylinder pressure somehow while running and recorded a chart on rotating drum to give a measure of performance and efficiency. Sort of a portable dynamometer. Best story I've ever read about the use of such devices involved Locomotives. A guy would ride in a little box bolted onto side of locomotive near the cylinders while fully loaded train was operated at full speed. His job was to take multiple  readings from a pair of these instruments. They were all hard of hearing.

[Notlobster]

Take a look at this tubalcain "what is it" video starting at 5:30.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlBgaxouz8U

[Yadda]

Take a look at this tubalcain "what is it" video starting at 5:30.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlBgaxouz8U

Nailed it!