Clay Bledsoe's research into the use of the device shown below resulted in his winning the NIA's award for the best display by a junior collector. NIA president Kevin Jacobson is shown presenting the award to Clay at the annual banquet.
                                                                                                                                                       

What is the device? A mandrel for forming threads in a mold?

Clay says the item is actually a gauge to measure insulators coming off the production line to determine if the threads in the pin cavity met the specifications required by the companies buying the insulators. This gauge was used in the Hemingray factory.