Monday Mystery, Richards Wilcox

Here is an interesting device made by Richards Wilcox (whom we've covered before, here). Although they made tools, they specialized in garage doors and mechanisms. A reader found a stack of these things and wondered what they do. The view above certainly looks like door hardware, and the rounded housing holds a spring-operated tape as shown in the last image.  My guess is some sort of door closer? Thoughts and guesses welcomed!