This is a hand cranked food chopper that was designed by one of today's most successful manufacturers of machinist tools. It is said that Mr. Starrett marketed these vegetable/meat chopper by going from hardware store to hardware store selling & taking future orders of these tools to finance his budding machine tool industry.
Called a steamboat chopper because of the walking beam device that were often used in steam boats to transfer power.
As the chopper is cranked, the tub slowly rotates, this leaves the food evenly chopped.
They made this steamboat chopper in three sizes (that I am aware of).
The largest one ran off of a flat belt pulley in stead of a hand crank. It was probably powers by a hit/miss gas engine.
The other photo is the original sales receipt from the late 1800's
....... hotairfan