[porsche930dude]

Trying to figure out what this thing was used for so I can sell it Pat dec. 30 1902. The bottom is suposed to have a board covering the wires I would say thats probrobly where the label was. Looks to me like some sort of switchboard maybe for telegraph moorse code with the electro magnet cylender? Im not sure what the brass pipes are for and why the tube pulls out of the cylender. Any ideas?