I found this at my lock-up, I think its from the hoarders house in December. Not a clue. Its a hard plastic tube with hard clear acrylic or lucite ends, both have threads and unscrew. One end has a brass threaded valve. No moving parts. No makers marks at all, just a raised panel with the words "CHANGE CRYSTALS WHEN PINK UNSCREW THIS END" >>>> When the end is unscrewed there appears to be a carbon or charcoal protrusion attached to the lid. When both ends are taken off there appears to be some sort of gauze filter. There is a clear window near one end and clear crystals can be seen.
I think it is some sort of laboratory desiccant tube, similar to this modern one, used to remove moisture from air or other gas: https://www.certifiedmtp.com/drieri...ZWKYYefiCVtbe4sMWqq85zU8RAfUCtEgaAkyZEALw_wcB The crystalline material is probably indicator silica gel. When it is dry, it is blue. When it absorbs moisture it turns pink.
Looks like a really primitive sonic screwdriver! Maybe Doctor #2 will come looking for it, albeit he'll have to show up as an animation.
Reminds me of a shower water filter I had...though this is probably not ..yours looks way too old for that technology..