Okay, what's THIS supposed to be??

[Operafan]

Any ideas?

http://cgi.ebay.com/decorative-old-mode ... 483fe805e9

[estott]

Appears to be designed to record something on paper, possibly some kind of scientific demonstration piece to show sound wave forms- a version of the Phonautograph. There are no grooves on the cylinder and the stylus looks as if it has lateral movement in response to the electromagnets.

[Starkton]

@estott, your opinion is correct. This is an apparatus with galvanic tuning fork to record the vibrations of the same on smoked paper.

Scientific instruments like this were sold by factories specialised on the manufacture of physical apparatuses for schools and universities. It wasn't constructed to record sound waves, but display vibrations of solid bodies.

[Tinkerbell]

I find the description rather amusing:

no company signed
very decorative object, size: 55x20/w/x35/h/ in cm, extremly heavy 4kg + packing!!!!
brass and iron, removable cylinder
Keep in mind that the device is through 100.years old, who wants a new camera, no bid, please!
no warranty! no warranty of description, no back money accept!!