A very unusual piece ! Hoping for some help identifying and dating

[John Taglione]

Found this in an attic . Have no clue what it is and was hoping for your help identifying and dating.  Thank you.  John 

[House of Charm Antiques Southinc]

This was more fun before the pics...

[BikerBonnie]

lol

[John Taglione]

Wanted to share this with you 

This is a mold form for sand casting. It was suggested to be because of the “camera” in the listing. Perhaps if you change it to “mold form” or “sand casting” you may get more interest. Cool item though.

It’s how cast iron pans and engine blocks are made. https://youtu.be/-8KVdZIoNRQ

[John Taglione]

I sent you some pics 

[John Taglione]

I posted pic of underside

[John Taglione]

Wanted to share this with you 

This is a mold form for sand casting. It was suggested to be because of the “camera” in the listing. Perhaps if you change it to “mold form” or “sand casting” you may get more interest. Cool item though.

It’s how cast iron pans and engine blocks are made. https://youtu.be/-8KVdZIoNRQ

[Molly]

I think I see the word ADAMS on the side of the "box" and on one of the side hinge pieces of hardware.  Not sure if it means anything, though.  

[BikerBonnie]

A drawer?

[tomsantiquesetcetera]

I can see the word "Adams" also but next to it, upside down, I can read, "Daguerre" which tells me this is part of the set-up for a camera. The camera slides forward and back on the long metal tracks and sideways on the short ones. I believe the OP knows what it is and is concealing it. Without the other components, tri-pod, camera, plates, and chemicals its value is minimal.

I attempted to find Adams, but only found a picture (Daguerreotype) for a military man by that name.

NOTE: You can ZOOM by right clicking the pictures where you can read them. I also saw letters/words on the hardware, not mentioned by the OP.

[Molly]

I indicated that I saw the name ADAMS on the hardware above.

[Michael]

Tom, why would you assume they know this and would be withholding such information on purpose?

Perhaps they simply hadn't taken a good look at it yet and not noticed, posting it up after a brief perusal.

That aside, I do see how it could be a camera, as there is clearly something missing from this object as it stands now, and the design does fit with such cameras.

[Molly]