does anyone know what this is?

[l_bilyk]

 

[jbilbo]

Psssst! you put your weed in there....

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Morse Code!

 

[l_bilyk]

Psssst! you put your weed in there....

no no it's a car part.. i think

 

[dink]

Looks like a battery to me

 

[Elroy]

Looks like a wedge magneto to Elroy. You know: you put the wedge under the tire when the magneto fails so the car won't roll away while you're calling AAA on your cell phone.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I believe it's an ignition coil for a model T Ford or similar vintage car.

 

[SuperKid]

It's a piggy bank. You just turn those knobs to the correct numbers, and that silver colored piece pops up out of that bronze colored strap, and you can open it up. Simple as that.

 

[l_bilyk]

I believe it's an ignition coil for a model T Ford or similar vintage car.

YOU WIN!

 

[MoparFreek]

Camera or like Stuart said some part of an earily ignition system..

 

[Uncle Buck]

Model T coil

 

[camarojoe]

I think its a really poor photo of a 66 chevelle.

 

[malibu101]

I think its a really poor photo of a 66 chevelle.

Yes, it an early ignition coil. What's shown in the picture is also know as a vibrating coil. On a "regular" coil the supply voltage must be cut off (like points used to do) so the field collapses and there is output on the secondary side of the coil. These vibrating coils produce a constant spark, almost like a transformer.
Some guys look for these if putting flamethrowers on the exhaust. It's the easiest way to keep a spark going on the sparkplug.