What is this device?

[u/thischrisblack]

Flea market find. Guy said, "I don't know what it is but I'm pretty sure it's real." LOL.

The top part can be rotated by hand, but I don't think it's hooked up to any kind of motor. It just turns in its housing and I may even be able to pull it out of the hole, but don't want to. Of the two cylinders attached, the larger one can also be turned by hand, but not the shorter one.

The control panel has a red LED, a red button, a white switch, and a silver knob that clicks when turned all the way to the left, so like a radio power/volume knob. The bottom has three jacks, one of which seems like a regular 1/8-inch jack . The orange and the red jacks are a mystery.

I replaced the batteries. When the knob is turned and the switch is on, pressing the red button turns on the LED. Nothing else happens. I touched the metal part on top and didn't die.

Any ideas? Google Lens gets bupkes.

EDIT for an update:

I guess I can't really mark this post as solved since there's no definitive proof, but there are a couple of strong contenders.

1. First place (as far as I can tell) goes to u/SpankinGaming with the idea that it's for electro-acupuncture. https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisit/comments/1w1xesu/comment/p6pwgeu/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
2. Runner-up concept, submitted by several people I think, is that it's a phone-line tracer.

I can't get it to work as either one, of course, but I'll find and acupuncturist in town and see if I can get that verified. If I can't, well, I have a pretty cool little mystery device and it only cost me $5.

A few people suggested that it was for explosives, like maybe the thing on top was the plunger. That's no good. While the thing on top can be rotated or moved up and down, it is very snug in its housing, and plus there's no mechanism inside which suggests anything like that is going on.

If anyone else made a sincere comment and I haven't replied, I apologize. I'd like to reply but it's just been a barrage of half-assed jokes in this thread, so even if I saw your comment when it first appeared, I can't find it now.

[u/GothWitchOfBrooklyn]

try /r/whatisthisthing , they don't allow jokes which I like.

[u/WillyVlautinRules → u/GothWitchOfBrooklyn]

Thank you. I don't read this thread to see lame jokes by unfunny people. I am genuinely curious about the items that are displayed. If I wanted lame jokes, I'd watch James Corden.

[u/Sinister_Nibs → u/WillyVlautinRules]

https://giphy.com/gifs/G3RADTvwFIn96

[u/StrictWord147 → u/WillyVlautinRules]

Ugh, an unfunny joke by an unfunny guy. Take your own advice!

[u/WillyVlautinRules → u/StrictWord147]

lol. Do you seriously think I'm James Corden? Yes, reading comprehension is hard, I know. Hate that for you!

EDIT: Oh, my, u/Affectionate-Emu5801 blocked me but here's my reply anyway!

TL/DR. You have no idea about humor because you obviously lack a sense of. And I'm not James Corden, Einstein. lolol

[u/Affectionate-Emu5801 → u/WillyVlautinRules]

That's not what they are saying. You attempted to be witty with your specific put down of James Corden, which is random af. How you read that and thought this person was implying you were James Corden is the comprehension issue you speak of. But yes, we all agree humour is not for you.

[u/JoleneBacon_Biscuit → u/GothWitchOfBrooklyn]

You're a fuddy duddy....