What Is It? Game 116

Today's collaboration with the What is it? Blog brings us this .... alligator?! Actually, this object has a specific function. Do you know what it is?

Place your guess in the comment section. The first correct guess, as well as the funniest (but ultimately wrong) guess will win a T-shirt from the Neatorama Shop. Please let others play and post no URLs or web links. Doing so will forfeit your entry.

For more clues, check out the What is it? Blog. Good luck!

Update 11/20/09 - the answer is A cast iron alligator match safe, text on its back says "Monon Route", on its legs "Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Atlanta", on its head "Chicago" and on the tail "Florida". It advertised the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway, which later changed its name to The Monon Route, it served the previously mentioned locations.

Congratulations to Edward who got it right first (again) and to pwscott who made me chuckle with "steampunk pez."