Mystery Object

I came across this object at the Little Easton Lodge special open day today (WORLD WAR II DAY & CONCERT). It had been unearthed from somewhere on the Little Easton/Dunmow airfield site, but no one has yet been able to identify what it is.

The trigger on the hand-grip may be a clue, but it doesn't look like the "paddle" grips used to control either the Martin Power Turret (dorsal guns) or the Bell M-6 Mount (tail guns) that were used on the B-26 Marauders based there. Perhaps it's something used on the Stirlings that were there later.

There appears to be a small motor and some gearing within the unit, along with various electrical connectors.

Can any of you knowledgeable folk please identify the mystery object from the following photographs ?

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some of the wiring looks similar to a heating element

that seems more likely with the gear cog and the thumb switch ?operating a rack and pinion sort of thingyou could get a voltage control system similar to a scalelextix hand set perhaps for controling an electric motor such as one used to swivel a turret perhaps.

As Peter said, the zig-zag wire would have been wound around a circular former, probably ceramic since it would need to be insulated. The former has disintegrated leaving the nichrome wire unwound. A spring-loaded contact would have 'wiped' around the wire varying the circuit resistance for a control function.

Having a natural interest in gun turrets I have some knowledge and reference sources on the subject but cannot yet match the control to a gun installation. Turrets usually had a single stick control or 'handlebar' controls with twin grips so it may not be related to armament.