DMC-FX7
ƒ/2.8
5.8 mm
1/100
100
Puzzle Series: What is this, or what do you want it to be?
We are long overdue for a puzzle, and I may need some help explaining this one…
30 responses to “What’s That? (65)”
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It’s clearly a telephone with a built-in Geiger counter (who can’t use one of those??) that can also be used to fly a plane (see http://www.cartoonbank.com/assets/1/43325_m.gif ).
The stuff in the well on the right is a kind of chromed-up moleskine.
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Bingo Biotron, automatt and special credit to sec611 for being a good reader. =)
When my Dad bought this, he was told that it was a covert phone wiretap device used by the FBI and CIA. It has U.S. Army registration tags and some other markings I wil look up tonight. I like the legalese disclaimer on the right.
Anyone know anything more about this? Maybe I should give it a spin.
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I was just being a smartass, but I’ll take whatever credit comes my way! 🙂 I actually thought someone built it as a hobby or from a kit, the Dymo labels all over makes it look ‘homemade.’ ;}
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It’s beautiful. How many stake-outs in how many seedy hotels must this thing have seen? Ah, if toggle switches could talk…
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Yay! I got one right!!!
I only had to lurk Steve’s photostream for a mere eighteen months. =)
posted to http://www.geekcrack.com -
Someone clearly has you all fooled. As anyone can plainly see, it is most definitely a time travelling device. Geesh (amateurs) 😛
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JJ San: wow, it really is reminiscent of an early iPod. What would that hold, like, .3 songs?
Definitely wondering what that DEAD button does. "KILLS LTS & PH. MIC", apparently.
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Hello! I blogged your photo along with some news about the latest place where the NSA is spying on Americans. I believe that we are still un-surveiled at most Taco Bells and at church bingo nights.
I also really miss Wired’s feature like this and am glad to find this!
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This is a telephone line tap device that could be used on either side of the law. It was probably made by the Western Electric proto shop. The device would allow a user to camp on a telephone line to listen or record without detection. There was a second and third generation of this device that was better built. A company, for which I used to work, made the meter and some of the electronics for the device which was largely used in the old relay frame phone exchanges before cross bar made the device obsolete. Cross bar would allow camping on a line without so much external gear.
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