What is this mysterious piece of equipment found in my store room?

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The discussion revolves around an unidentified object found in a storeroom, speculated to be a scattering demonstration device. Participants suggest that it may involve squirting a substance from a tube onto a spinning wheel to observe the scattering pattern. The only identifiable marking is a manufacturer sticker from "Welch," and the base is made of flat particle board. Observations indicate that the device features a spring-loaded screw mechanism for the tube, while the center consists of a stationary piece of glass. A comparison is made to a student lab apparatus used for measuring angles through the impact of small metal balls on a target, which could provide insights into the function of the found device.
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I just found this in my store room. Anybody have any ideas what it is?

20200817_130355.jpg 20200817_130409.jpg
 
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No. But my guess is some kind of scattering demo? You squirt something from the tube to the (spinning?) wheel and see where it goes as you move the nozzle side to side.

What do we win if we guess right. Kewpie dolls, or cash?
 
jfmcghee said:
I just found this in my store room. Anybody have any ideas what it is?

Other than the manufacturer sticker 'Welch", I don't see any information. What's on the bottom side of the base plate?
 
It's just flat particle board. The only thing that seems to move is the little tube along a spring loaded screw. The center seems to be just an immobile piece of glass.
 
Reminds me of a scattering apparatus in a student lab which I tutored. There was an adjustable mechanism which shot small metal balls onto the central target. On the rim there was a special paper which acquired black dots upon impact which made angle measurements possible. The angle measurements were then used to infer information about the target.
 

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