Featured Mystery Item - What is it?

A colleague purchased this at a flea market in England, and so far no one has been able to identify it here. It is a small plastic device with a brass looking tube that fits in the top. There is a small plastic tip that screws on to the tip of the tube. The brass tube is free to turn to any position. The plastic base about 3 inches high, with a protruding plastic sphere that rises about 3/8 inch. The base end of the plastic is covered with an ornate brass screen. None of the metal parts are magnetic. Total weight is 2.2 ounces.

From what I can see looking through the plastic, the opening that accepts the brass tube is a channel on the inside that goes down almost to the base, then curves back and heads for the protruding sphere, but ends just short of the sphere. So air going into the tube would exit near the sphere, then be free to exit from the underside of the device.

I see no manufacturer markings of any sort. What is it??? Thanks! ... Dave

 

Some sort of atomiser?

 

Maybe. My impression is that the screw in tip on the brass tube is a mouthpiece. But I have no idea how you would use it.

 

Is it complete? Maybe there's other parts that are meant to go with it?

 

I don't sense that anything is missing. I forgot to mention before, I smelled it and didn't detect any odors that might have offered a clue (i.e. no smoke smell, no perfume, etc).

 

crazy thought..does the brass piece rotate freely...would it"the mouthpiece " fit in your ear?

 

sorry..just saw that it moves freely

 

Yes, it does rotate freely and I think it would fit well in an ear.

 

could it then be a hearing amplifier?

 

I was just checking that - an "Ear Trumpet". Possibly - I will check further in the morning (about to bug out here for the day). I think we are on the right track.

 

Got it! https://www.google.com/search?q=ear...hUEvRoKHc7OD30Q_AUIBygC#imgrc=2uFdg0M-3V0YAM:

 

http://www.gilai.com/product_1151/French-Pocket-Type-Ear-Trumpet-Hearing-Aid.

 

Perfect..that was fun

 

I agree, that was fun. Great job to id it Ruedi
Very cool piece gambler-dave!

 

what she said!!!!!!!!!!

 

WHUSSAT 'CHER SAYIN', SONNY?? Lil' Tommy fell down the ol' stone well in the woods??

 

What a bizarre thing! I would never have guessed.

Great job guys!

 

This isn't needed now, but while looking at the first link I noticed this . . .
http://www.eartrumpets.co.uk/catalogs.php?field=makers&test=8

 

Thank you Ruedi for that key clue! I've never seen an ear trumpet before.

 

my pleasure...love strange treasures