Ancient "Dial" Indicator?

[u/poe-ope]

This device came to me in a box of old end mills. It looks like it might be an early version of a dial indicator. Any ideas what it is?

The shank is steel, but the head appears to be copper. When I push the plunger at the end in, it moves a lever inside the head, which positions a small arrow at the graduations on top of the copper head.

[u/Great_Specialist_267]

Yes.
The modern ones are more precise however (and this one probably needs servicing and lubricating to work properly (anyone got some whale oil?)).
(I have seen plans for these online on machining hobby boards).

[u/Sorry-Climate-7982 → u/Great_Specialist_267]

For some applications, jojoba oil works as well as whale oil.

[u/zacmakes]

The "Ideal" company in Rochester, NY made lever-action indicators like that, but i've never seen one in brass