Help need with old Crosby pressure gage

I have found some information online but I still can't figure how old this is. It looks similar to one in the 1888 catalog but it isn't an exact match. Does anyone know how old this is? Was this used for industrial or residential purposes? Should I clean it or leave that up to the new owner? Thank you.

 

Hi,
If selling do not do anything to it. JMHO
greg

 

Thanks Gregg. Normally I wouldn't clean it but I did see some listed that were polished and shiny. I don't have any experience with this kind of thing so I wanted to be sure.

 

Polished and shiny looks good to newbies, but real collectors will shy away.

 

Walter Almy made water boilers for ships. So my guess would be some kind of ship or boat.

Mikey

 

Thank you! Off to search with that information.

 

Shipboard steam I'd say.

 

Could be for locomotives, too, DH says. 19th c. likely!

 

I think the highest pressure there is not much above the normal operational level so don't know about that.