Can you identify this gadget?

This rusted, broken, but originally very solidly produced piece of machinery was found by Lee Praetorius during the course of his field work. His father-in-law Wayne Frederick brought it into The Record office to see whether any of our readers might be able to help identify it. No one he has asked around town, even the oldtimers, he says, knows what it could be. Contact us if you have any ideas, and we will pass them along to the Frederick/Praetorius clan and to our readers.