on ebay right now - Torpedo item??? anyone recognise this?

[butterfly]

Just seen this advertised on ebay, seller states 'It comes with a brass winding mechanism marked 'Torp timer mech'. (presumably because someone has stuck a bit of tape to it which says just that)

In my ignorance of the mechanics of the torpedo, does anyone recognise exactly what this piece is, and indeed is there anything to suggest that it is anything to do with a 'Torp' ?

link below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW1-ROYAL...Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item5afc3d8214

Kev

 

[Natter]

Just seen this advertised on ebay, seller states 'It comes with a brass winding mechanism marked 'Torp timer mech'. (presumably because someone has stuck a bit of tape to it which says just that)
In my ignorance of the mechanics of the torpedo, does anyone recognise exactly what this piece is, and indeed is there anything to suggest that it is anything to do with a 'Torp' ?

I have never seen anything like it, so this is more or less guessing: It certainly does not look like a device from an actual torpedo given it's rather "delicate" construction. However, it might be part of a system for firing/controlling (ie a shipmounted) torpedoes - the appearance of the "knob" also suggests so.