I have no idea what these locking top 'shakers' are...any thoughts?

The sign of a true addict...I'll buy anything if I don't know what it is and the price is right! I love the research but this pair has me stumped.

This is a pair of metal cylindrical 2-part items 2 3/4" high X 1 1/4" in diameter. The bottom has an open slot in the side and a shaft inside that goes through a hole in the top of the lid. The top has a knob which turns a flat plate to slide under the shaft and lock the lid on to the bottom section.

One lid has 16 holes on the side and the other has 20 holes but the holes do not line up with the slots on the bottom sections when they are closed so you could shake out salt or pepper. The holes line up with the slots if the lid or cap is put on from the bottom of the bottom piece but then the top is open and there is no way to stand the containers up unless they balance on the knobs which doesn't make sense.

The locking top is marked, 'Pat. Pending' but there are no marks or hallmarks.

I've searched through salt & pepper shakers, potpourri containers, and heat sources with no luck so have at it.

 

Similar have been on here. Someone knows...

 

my eyes are TERRIBLE today, but they look like salt & pepper grinders to me!

Damn, it is awful getting TOO old...........

 

How would these work as grinders, Mansons?

 

they have a stainless steel 1950's Dr's exam room look to them.....maybe earlier..

 

I'm thinking they have to be salt and pepper shakers; just have to figure out how they work. Maybe spring-loaded somehow so that when you push on the top, or squeeze, the holes DO line up.
And maybe the springs are stuck...try putting some oil inside the tubes with the knob-tops, and then try pushing again. Or otherwise fool with them until you can get the top to slide inside the bottom and line the holes up.

 

I have ABSOLUTELY no idea............but the parts and bits I can SEE remind me of grinders I have. There would be a set of what look like gears, but with sharpened teeth that would pulverize peppercorns or rock salt.................or fingers, if you could get one in there to try it out............

maybe they are missing parts? or they are in reality part of a space shuttle that I never worked with?

maybe I am missing parts and hallucinating?

 

And the winner is...all_fakes!

That's exactly how they work. I didn't even need oil-just never tried pushing down on the darn things which I hadn't thought of doing before.
Thank you so much.

Thanks to all the others who played along as well trying to solve my mystery.

Mansons, you are too funny.