What is this thing.

I love sleuthing!

D R Sperry turns up quickly in a Google search, and it sounds as though it may well be the same company.

Over A Century Of Innovation And Performance

Founded in 1868, D. R. Sperry & Company has long been meeting the filtration needs of both industry and government. Our engineering and manufacturing expertise has been proven in the field--and continues to be prepared by our honest dedication to be the best. Sperry has been the source of numerous filtration innovations and understands that in order for the customer to fully appreciate our capability, we must continue to make filtration history. Our attitudes toward business reflect that understanding.
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Doug has a bit about D.R. Sperry:
http://www.castironcollector.com/sperry.php

D.R. Sperry & Co.

Location: Batavia, Kane County, Illinois
Founders: D.R. Sperry (1825- ), A.N. Merrill
Period of Production: 1868-
Products Manufactured: Full Line

Sperry Timeline

1867 - Merrill establishes Batavia foundry.
1868 - Company organized when Sperry buys an interest in Merrill's foundry.
1869 - Sperry buys out Merrill.
1876 - Company incorporated as D.R. Sperry & Co.
1881 - Company moves to North Aurora, IL, but continues to maintain Batavia address.
1885 - Foundry destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
1887 - Foundry damaged by river flooding.
1903 - Second fire destroys foundry, rebuilt from brick within six months.
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But so far, I'm drawing a blank on that odd item. There is plenty online about the company... they made some interesting looking skillets and kettles, too.

Still sleuthing...

---------- Post added at 08:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:12 PM ----------

From what I can tell, they were into so many things that you may never find out. Perhaps it was part of the "Sperry Filter Press, Used By Varnish Makers"
(http://tinyurl.com/ncohdb5) or a piece from aCrystallizing Evaporator or a Sperry Swing Kettle Vacuum Pan
 
I would venture a guess, in the area of filtration, that it looks to be a distillation tool. Boil water in a pot, set that on top, the steam rises into the tube then cools and drips into a catch basin under the pipe. Just a guess . . .
 
DSBradley said:
I would venture a guess, in the area of filtration, that it looks to be a distillation tool. Boil water in a pot, set that on top, the steam rises into the tube then cools and drips into a catch basin under the pipe. Just a guess . . .
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That possibility did occur to me as well. But depending on what was being distilled, I would think that cast iron wouldn't be the best material for a condensation tube.
 
Just like the cast iron tea pots, the hard water deposits would act as a seasoning. I think it may have been for filtering water also. It looks like it would have fit a large kettle and the pipe may have flowed into a bucket for fresh drinking water.
 
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