For making fishing floats.
It appears elder berry piths can be used as floats alsoNatural Pith Wood Elder for Watchmakers (10 sticks) - Eternal Tools
https://www.eternaltools.com/pith-wood-for-watchmakers
Pith Wood is used by watchmakers for cleaning tools and for its high absorption qualities. It is made from the Elder tree and prevents grease or oil contamination. Use Pith Wood for absorbing excess oil from a movement or for cleaning your oil pike before dipping into your oil cup.
The Flee & Float
The Flee & Float has been designed to share with others my Passion's in Fishing. Fly fishing using Split Cane & Carbon fly rods in pursuit of wild river Trout & Grayling, using self tied flies. Trotting for Grayling using Centrepin Reels and Cane trotting rods. Hand making Furled leaders for Fly fishing and making floats for trotting for Grayling.
I do have medium elder berry growing and it does have some smaller ones growing near by that I have been mowing.Those are some nice floats BTW, That would be another use.
I guess with the invention of Styrofoam and cellphones (no need for watches) the pith industry has grinded to a swift halt.
It looks like it was used to stamp something. I would need to able to see the bottom surface of the ram. The little trays might be used to hold material. The nail could been used to pass through a hole in the material to secure it.How about this thing??? Its cast iron and industrial looking. It's sitting on my knee for size comparison.