Bought this piece today along with two other items. Not too sure what its purpose is,laughing gas? It is marked Buffalo Dental MFG CO. Buffalo N.Y pat Sep19 1899. I love unique things and thought this one fell in that category. There are 3 valves on top,air inlet,air outlet,gas outlet. In my short search all I had found was blowtorch,odd from a dental company. Regardless I find it very cool!