Taking a long shot here, but it may be for holding the metal compensating 
rods used to adjust a ship's magnetic compass that has been thrown off by 
the vessels metal construction.

Just a guess.

Marv Paisner
Kootenay Lake, BC




-----Original Message----- 
From: sushimonster via groups.io
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2024 4:30 AM
To: oldtools@g...
Subject: [oldtools] Help with an unknown item - possibly maritime?

Hi all,

I have come across this item/tool for which I'm at a loss as to it's use. 
I'm making an assumption that because it has the word "Aft" it means toward 
the rear of a boat - but assumptions are quite often wrong, especially mine.

Anyone seen one of these before? It's 9 cm high, and has lift-able flaps on 
all four sides. Each flap covers 9 small holes that go all the way through 
the block to the opposite side. It also has a removable block with a brass 
plate top which also has 7 holes arranged in a daisy wheel formation.