Alan,
you have a mouth blown spirit torch.
They were / are used for any small heating or soldering job, 
particularly where other gas equipment can't be used or it is easier to 
just pick up that small unit instead of getting out a larger gas torch.
I have a couple. This one came from a jewellery workshop here in 
Melbourne, Aust.

  www.petermcbride.com/temp/images/blow_torch.jpg

If you look closely, a couple can be seen on the bench near the left 
shoulder of the central jeweller.

  www.petermcbride.com/temp/images/hurwitz1.jpg

It was used in the 1950s and 60s when our town gas supply was coal gas. 
Town gas was for the bench torches. There were gas strikes, and supply 
was not reliable, so those spirit torches were the standby.

  www.petermcbride.com/temp/hurwitz_tools

Regards,
Peter,
In Melbourne, Australia
PS. somewhere I have some catalogue pictures, I will look for them and 
post another reply.

On 10/05/2012 2:48 AM, Trains75buff@a... wrote:
> Hello, I have this brass thing I think is a torch. It is 6 3/4" tall and 1"
>   round with brass cap. Opened 6 5/8" tall, packed with cotton string. I
> have  photos I can post.
> alanrr
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