What is it - old lathe part?

[imc188222]

Can anyone shed some light on this piece? I saved it from the scrapper some years ago, just came across it again going thru my stuff.
At first I thought it was the tail stock from an old wood lathe, but that doesn't make sense because there is no way to extend the center or drill chuck.
My next thought is maybe it is maybe it's part of a tool and cutter grinder. It doesn't seem precise enough for that though.
I'll let you folks guess away at it.
Thanks,
-Isaac

More info.
The only markings on it are shown in the pictures.
There is machined flat spot with the following stamped into it.
T.C. 9722B
Dept. 36
7.3.1928

The number 5513 is cast into the main body, below the chuck.
When you turn the handle, the chuck spins.

 

[LXCam]

Could be for drills. But I'd guess it was a tapping set up that bolted to the carriage. Back before speed changes and instant direction changes were invented or common. I have a tapping table and that's exactly what your piece reminds me of.

 

[gorilla]

That looks like a shop made tool to rotate something, perhaps to wind something on a spool or to paint an edge or aid in assembly.

 

[imc188222]

Thanks for the ideas. I was really hoping someone would recognize it and know exactly what it is but I also didn't think there was much of a chance of that.
-Isaac

 

[larry_g]

I have a set of line shaft trunions that look like that. The trunion is the base and bearing. As said above the crank and chuck were probably added. We used to use something similar to twist wires together.

lg
no neat sig line