TheRoadsMustRoll said:

this is for getting worms out of the ground for fishing bait.

there’s two electrodes that you place a distance apart in the ground, turn on the voltage and the worms come to the surface.

consumer versions of this were commonly dangerous so it wouldn’t be unusual for somebody to make their own. wouldn’t pass UL standards lol.

Rich_One8093 said:

I agree with the other sub this was posted in, this is a strike alarm for fishing that can run two fishing poles.

The IV rig and the copper pipe hold the poles. The 6 volt battery goes through the switches and powers one side of the outlet on each handy box. The bell is wired to the negative side. The odd things in the corner box are a cord end, to be plugged into the outlet, and a clip with contacts at the ends that would complete the circuit when closed, ringing the bell. The cardboard was inserted between the contact points on the clip and attached to the fishing line and when a fish too the hook, would pull the cardboard out of the clip allowing the circuit to be “made” and the bell to ring. Sound feasible

anyway.

BingServ said:

Mytitle describes the thing: we demolished an old wood shed and found it under the floor. The briefcase was locked and upon further research based on the name tag, it belonged to a former electrician and Vietnam vet who has since passed away. The copper pipe fits into a female piece on the wood hinge, so nothing can flow through. The two plugs seem to run in sequence with switches attached. The steel bracket piece screws onto a base that is fixed to the briefcase.

KryptosBC said:

I love stuff like this. Hoses for water or air were draped over the hooks and hose-clamped to the copper yoke.

Two electric heating elements (now used elsewhere) were wrapped around the copper and plugged in. The fluid was heated as it was pumped through the copper pipe. The 6-volt battery powers the alarm bell, which was probably hooked up to a temperature sensor that also was powered by 6 volts. I’m guessing the temp sensor is attached to the old style plug in the small box. Why it’s in a brief case is the only real mystery. Sorry, but I felt it necessary to suggest something not related to earthworms.

TikiTribble said:

It’s constructed in a briefcase! I suggest this MAY mean it’s meant to be portable on a fairly regular basis. But not just portable, which would likely call for a rudimentary custom (probably wooden) container with the best dimensions for holding the device. This device appears to be cleverly designed to collapse and fold specifically into the briefcase.

This MAY imply the builder did not want it known that they were carrying anything out of the ordinary. I suggest perhaps a device to be secretly carried to places where it could be plugged in. Like to people’s houses. Finding it

“under the floorboards” supports- in the absence of further info – the notion of secrecy.

In a primitive, homemade way, this somehow reminds me of a bogus lie detector, seance prop, or even an attempt to copy an “E-Meter” as used in Scientology.

(These too are matters in which I am clueless). But is it possible that a subject was meant to rest their forearms on the left side “IV Drip” bars, and grab the right side copper “T-bar” with both hands to complete a circuit?

There would need to be feedback, probably provided by the bell ringing occasionally, or ringing faster and slowar in response to the Administrator’s questions.