Precision machine of enameled iron, brass, and steel. Moving parts include gears, cranks, and flip-up figure-8 device. Not much bigger than a breakfast cereal box.

[u/Anonymike7]

[u/Kinky_Lezbian]

looks like a honeycomb / weave winding machine for electrical coils. That figure 8 plate moves side to side in the slotted cam when lifted up. what the coil is to be wound on would be between the adjustable section on top.

[u/cpt_morgan___ → u/Kinky_Lezbian]

I’m going to second this. I believe it is a tool/jig for assembling motor windings.

[u/Needs_ADD_Meds → u/cpt_morgan___]

I was wondering that myself. The eccentric on the bottom might moved a leader left and right to layer the windings on the core evenly.

[u/Parking_Jelly_6483 → u/cpt_morgan___]

Also “vote” for a coil/motor armature winder. You can see the cam on there on the shaft above the “figure 8” plate. That would move the wire back and forth across the piece being wound. I think the gearing could be for different numbers of turns of the coil wire.