Whatsits

I bought this boxed set of stacking steel cylinders years ago because it intrigued me and the price was right.  The set includes four bases, into which various numbered cylinders can be inserted and locked to create stacks of different heights.  I don't know what the set was originally designed to accomplish, but I thought that it might be useful for set up on my knee mill.  "Supplied by A. Hurst & Son Limited, Dewsbury, Yorkshire."  The company has left no record of its existence on the web.