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.

[polksaladallie]

Was she or anyone in the family a medical/nursing person?

[sandypas]

Well, thank you for all your guesses but I don't really think any of you are right yet.  Nothing pulls out, nothing "clicks" and nothing pops out of the top.

The old lady lived in a farm house - her husband died many years ago (about 20).  Pete hasn't rang back yet but I would say he tried the magnetic bit.  He is just curious what his mother had it for.  Her husband was a farmer.

Waves to Deb - hope you are good (and still shopping ).

The only other photo I have is this one:  Hope it's more focused.

[imastawka]

So, are you saying,  katy,  that the OP's cousin's MIL was a 945y.o. intergalactic

warlord whose house was bigger on the inside?

Hahahahahahaha  love it

[lloydslights]

Perhaps a medico left it behind, and it was in safekeeping for when they returned.

DEB

[chuk_77]

ok, she lived on a farm...were there chickens? could it be an egg candler that has a broken part so therefore no pushy/pulley parts on it?

[soulart2]

It's to pluck those wiry hairs that grow out of moles. The round end bit fits over the mole and a little blade inside chops the hair off.

[channys_mum]

Oh so it is a little wiry mole hair plucker.

[katymatey*]

........and the mole.

[the*scarlet*pimpernel]

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@soulart2 wrote:
It's to pluck those wiry hairs that grow out of moles. The round end bit fits over the mole and a little blade inside chops the hair off.

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oh I've got to get me one of them

[the*scarlet*pimpernel]

I think it's for testing electrical currents.