as I recall, after some discussion a year or two ago, the general consensus was that this had something to do with an older PABX - I am out of space and don't need it, but it looks like it would be really useful as a way of pressing some two items together or separating them - here's the link
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the wooden case, the overall cost is pretty reasonable - if you win and tell me you got it from the NG, I'll cut another couple of $$ off the shipping (just remind me) - I hate to throw nice condition stuff like this away, but if I keep everything, then the stuff takes over my life.