Cat dryer ?? That says Cat. No. 32 !! Catalogue number !! I can remember these from 50`s but they were also used in the 40`s !! We had a similar one with a flexible plastic hood and tube that fit over the nozzle !! This was when hair rollers were used !! They actually worked quite well !!
There was little change in style over a 10 year period or more,, then the hard plastic hood came along !!