Looking for an identification on this projector device

[Garageboy]

Hello

New member here.  Picked up this item at a local sale.  It's made from galvanized steel and appears to be some sort of projector.  The lens on the front has no focusing ability.  It's very well made but has the look of something that was made in a shop like a lot of railroad items you see.  Inside the back there are three light sockets.  Two are standard size and one is candelabra size.  They all turn on together with a single toggle switch on the side.  On the side of unit there is a single female 110V two prong receptacle to power the unit.  No label anywhere.  I don't see any kind of setup in the back to mount a postcard or anything else so that it could be projected on a screen.  The two regular size bulbs in the unit are high wattage purple colored and very hot.  Any ideas?  Thanks in advance for your help.

[KC]

This is a puzzler.  Doesn't make sense to be a projector and doesn't seem to show any wear/tear on the item to indicate any film to be run across the outside or inside.  So there is a lens in the white "pipe" that is sticking out?

Have to show to someone to see if they know what it is used for! 

[Garageboy]

You are correct.  There is a lens inside the tube but when you turn on the device it does not project anything like a projector does.  There is no mechanism inside to mount anything to project it anyway.  Does not appear to have had anything removed from the inside that anything would have mounted on.  Thanks for checking in.

[peppery]

The construction and use of high-wattage bulbs suggest it might be a type of theatrical lighting. The purple bulbs could be used for special effects or mood lighting.

[LucyCoffee]

This item sounds like a vintage or custom-built light projector, possibly used for decorative or industrial purposes rather than image projection. The lack of focusing ability and the presence of high-wattage purple bulbs suggest it might have been used as a special effects light, heat lamp, or for ultraviolet applications like detecting markings or sanitization. The galvanized steel construction and craftsmanship hint at a shop-made piece, potentially for a railroad or industrial setting. The mix of bulb sizes and the 110V receptacle further support its utility-based design. It’s a fascinating find