zemlya

yes, it looks definitely cut, but to me the most probable assumption is that it was a manufacturer oversight. the cut looks the way glass tubes for glass work usually come. anyway, i don't see what possible continuation that tube might have, given the grounded joint above, where only a very small flask would fit.

top end is completely closed. i thought about it being an incomplete piece. the opening in the joint is the only opening in the whole piece. it's not rough, it seems intended, not like a broken piece that has been cut. the only part that justifies an assumption of it being broken and then cut is the reflux line in the joint. but that part wouldn't serve any purpose by just being longer, as the solvent would still have to go through the whole of the joint to get to reflux level. puzzling .... oh, and i'm almost certain it's not a custom made piece, or some glass-maker experiment / practice / study piece. it's something that was professionally manufactured for a specific purpose. hence the hope that some of you guys would recognize the monster

the ground joint has an opening to the air, about 2 mm thick, just above the 2 tubes: it comes from the joint itself, not connected to the 2 tubes. that's probably the pressure relief ?

@MigL : i know, i know, lots of kids out there doin just that .... btw, i got an ARSENIC AMPOULE from the same flea market. on a newspaper, on the ground. just imagine.... @exchemist: yes, it's very strange. i've never seen a ground glass joint holding LIQUID in my life. i mean, i'm sure it COULD be done, but why ?!?!!? i payed about 10 bucks just for the fun of 'reverse engineering' that piece with you guys... it's obviously meant to reflux, so the first thing that comes to mind is a sox. but it's an extremely odd sox. also the joint size is a bit big for the extraction vessel, given the proximity of the conducts. it would have to be a very small vessel with a huge opening for its size. it's puzzling. this is another piece of oddity that i got dirt cheap (some other time) , and it's obviously a sox. can't find a proper condenser for it though, given the 'joint' connector (plate):

@MigL yes, you should. especially if you already own enough 'bongs' ' . but thanks for the didactic attitude, though @exchemist this would be the first sox i see where the reflux happens when the level in the main chamber gets OVER A GROUND JOINT. i mean, you'd have to seal that joint with solvent resistant grease. why do it this way ? the lower U trap is for the vapour to ascend on it's intended path (the thick tube) and the air condenser is to fill that trap. might be the strangest sox i got yet

any ideas, anyone ? just got this from a flea market cos it was cheap :P and now i'm trying to identify it ?