What is this? "DAMIUS"?

[JP Hindin]

Was waffling through the 'Worst Wiring' site this morning:
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/03/disturbing-wiring-part-3.html

And the second to last picture is this:
http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R-8VzPXRjMI/AAAAAAAANCE/jx8JYx24UY0/s800/2070168575_d4efbbdc59_o.jpg

Is this a real machine? It might have nothing to do with computing at all,
there's an awful lot of pot dial looking things on it. I'm still curious.

Thanks all;

 - JP