Looks to me like a tailstock tool capstan attachment. The 2MT fits in the tailstock taper, various tools (drills etc) are fitted in some or all of the holders on the front which can then be indexed and locked into position along the axis of the lathe. There is a photo of one fitted to a Myford tailstock in Mr Sparey's book "The Amateur's Lathe"

Gordon.

Turret lathe? What does the back look like?

That's the front.

An offset tailstock attachment?

Chunky too, some serious holes there.

Undo the lockbar, withdraw the detente, turn the tool until it re-engages, then re-tighten the  lockbar

Edited By Ady1 on 22/09/2016 00:25:55

It looks very similar to a Schaublin tailstock turret in principle, only bigger.

IIRC, Sparey's turret was offset, ie the discs were mounted to the arbor at an angle and the drill bits etc splayed outwards. The OP has the looks of a shopmade tool. Perhaps the design was in ME back in the day?

Well spotted. I wonder who WJ Steer was?

I take that back, it's a professional stamp.

Neil