What is this thing?

A lot of these were used to "Smoke" instead of heat, they would light off a small "Road Flare" filled with some super nasty chemicals that when burned would smoke out insects and the like. used to see them in and around ground level crops, but never tree types!
IF this one has a liquid tank, then the flare would have been under the tank, and it was a vaporizer type insecticide device!

 

I have to agree it is a hand warmer for abord ship. Probably those that venture the north Atlantic and south poll..
Noticed it is designed to be mounted down and there is a drain plug at the base. probably whale oil or kerosene use a wick to draw up the fluid to the burner, the hood protects users from open flame and from being blown out by the wind.

 

Being that it was made BY a company that did a lot of stuff for the drafting industry, it may be a room heater/ humidity control device! Likely used to heat or keep large areas dry. Those drawings would need to be kept as dry as possable as they would be super valuable amd irreplaceable!

Im wondering if this was Alcohol fueled, given it would be burning around people who couldnt handle smoke and you wouldnt want soot??????
Might explain the lack of burn evidence and the newer look and paint remains!

 

I think you'll need a barbershop in Nebraska to find out what that things is. If it's a hundred years old. or older, somebody's granpappy is probably still using one.

Otherwise, it's too new-fangled.

 

If it could hold low pressure steam you could feed it from the bottom. Collapsing vapor would create a vacuum making room for fresh steam. Meanwhile condensate that didn't re-flash could run back down to a low point steam trap below decks.

 

I do know a few folks in Nebraska I could send some pics to , and tell'em to go get a haircut if need be .

 

Got it! Dietzgen Model A Ammonia Print Developer. And more intact than any I find online. Alas, the nice brass data plate is missing.

 

Blue Print Developer, makes sense.

 

If you'd like to purchase it for your drafting room I can put you in touch with the lady who owns it. It was a curiosity, and only caught my attention because it was originally labeled as "hand warmer" and later as "vineyard heater."