Does Anyone know what this is??

[sandypas]

My cousin's mother-in-law passed away recently and this "instrument" was hers but no-one in the family knows what it is.  It is shaped like a pen, solid and has no moving parts.

She was a religious lady, other than that there are no clues.  Would love to know what it is used for.

[azureline**]

can you press the bit at the top?

[raptor_rebooted]

looks like a magnetic pointer thing

[the_great_she_elephant]

Does it have any writing on it? It looked as if there might be a faint inscription of some kind.

[sineaterdoodah]

i hesitate to give my opinion,until we know what happens when the top is pressed down.and if the tip is magnetic.

[imastawka]

Could it be a fountain pen and the nib is missing?

[sandypas]

Can't press the top and there is no writing/brand.  Not sure about it being magnetic - I will pohone and ask.

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@sineaterdoodah wrote:

i hesitate to give my opinion,until we know what happens when the top is pressed down.and if the tip is magnetic.

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When I showed it to Mr Elephant he wondered if the tip was magnetic - maybe for picking up dropped pins when sewing..

[katydidthat]

Is it hollow at the bottom?

[sandypas]

I asked if it was an instrument to set eyelets but her son said she never done anything like that.