The difference is that the stamp is used not at the sawmill, but in the actual logging operation in the woods to mark the ends of logs with a numerical representation as to where in the forest they came from and thereby who owns it. That way the Forest Service or the sawmill knows of the log has been stolen.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

During the great depression, families had to line up to recieve government provided meat and cheese from a regional government-opperated butcher shop. Those were tough times back then, tough times. So tough, in fact, that famlies had to wait in long lines. This device was a government project designed to increase efficincy in these markets. it worked like this:

1.) A representative from each family in line would take a number. (Similar to the deli at your local grocery store? That’s right! This is where it all started.)

2.) The clerk would take the order and send it back to the boys in the butchering room.

3.) The butchers would cut the meat and cheese for the order.

4.) This is where the device-in-question comes in. They would use the device to stamp the meat and cheese with the corresponding number held by the customer. The shop worker could swing the device like a hammer to stamp the food and the device was capable of rapidly advancing in numerical sequence simply by actuating the lever on the side.

5.) The meat and cheese were then wheel-barrowed to the front counter along with other peoples orders, and because they were all stamped, the clerks could differentiate between them.

6.) Ta da! The food is united with the hungry American family.

Now there you have it! Riddle solved! By the way, to develop this tool the government spent 42 million dollars, and if you think that sounds like a lot, just think how much it was in 1935! But as you can see, it was worth every penny as it helped us, as a nation, through some tough times.

P.S. My t-shirt size is small. I like a tight fit to show off my muscles.

I initially wondered if it might be for counting people (entering an entertainment event) or animals in – a kind of stock check.

But numbers are back to front indicating that it would require some kind of stamping or branding (as said by Hollywoood) allowing numbers to be read the right way round. I would rule out branding due to the size of the numbers. Also you would expect there to be a longer distance between what is being heated up to being red hot and the person holding it. The circular design also doesn’t seem right for branding.

The hand-held gadget seems designed to allow quick and easy movement of the numbers, ranging from 00 to 99. So it could be a stock numbering tool, but what happens if you have 100 of the same item? Perhaps a pricing tool makes more sense, as already suggested by Amanderpanderer.

What about age? I have no idea but guessing 1850-1910.

Also, I like the look of it. I bet it would feel good to hold, but not sure about it’s usefulness as a sex toy!! Ouch, Nostra. That’s just wrong.

Or maybe a hand-held 99-year time machine?