My grandpa had one that was made from two pitchforks and an extension cord. He would wet the ground for a few minutes, stick the pitchforks about 3ft apart, then plug in the cord. It was absolutely to see worms coming to the surface as quickly as they could!
The bell gets current before the 2 pin switched outlet, right? I get the idea fishing rods could sit in the front steel bracket although even with the clamps I can’t see they’d be able to complete the circuit
Could be a fishing bite alarm with the clamps at the end of the 2 pin plug for a separate purpose. e.g. worms
I feel like this is a trip wire alarm.(I think I read somewhere he was a Vietnam vet/) This seems like something I would make around my campsite if I had some shit laying around the house and a basic knowledge of electricity and circuits. Electricians……let me know where my ignorance is here.
The flow of electricity is to the bell then to the switch. Is that black power cable coming out of the bottom outlet exposed wires on the other side? In the clear box the plug looks wired to a jumper clip. Would the plug in the box get plugged into the box that is attached to the bell then clipped to one of the hangers or copper piece. I am spitballing here but something gets tied to the piece of wood with copper on it, when the copper pipe gets pulled off the two hangers it causes a break in the current which sets off the bell/alarm.
The aluminum stand is medical grade and is made to hold IV bags or similar.
The electrical is made to be powered from an outlet so AC.
Alarm may be for when one process is done and another begins. Maybe blood transfusion or some other medicinal process.
Everything is made to break down and be portable. Possibly missing pieces for the copper?
OP, do you see any method for silencing the alarm, such as cotton stuffed inside or is the alarm hanger bent back? If so, worm getter makes sense (using bell as a back EMF voltage spike generator), otherwise the fishing rod holder/fish alarm theory makes sense to me.