Strange Soda or Beer Dispenser, can anyone help

[evilmonkeybrewing]

I just purchased this dispenser, and have no idea what it is.  Below is a link to some photos.  Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?  The logo is from the now extinct Iroquois Brewing Co, which made soda during Prohibition.  Embossed on the tank are the words "Root Beer Master" around a triangle.  If anyone can give me any info on this device I would appreciate it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25985873@N04/?saved=1

Mike

[Larry]

Sorry, I can't help, but I was just curious, I thought Iroquois made beer.

[evilmonkeybrewing]

They did make beer until 1933 when Prohibition forced them to stop.  I believe they turned into the Iroquois Beverage Co. after this and made soda until the 1950's, when they started brewing again until 1971.  I homebrew and use the Cornelius soda kegs for containers.  This thing caught my eye as it is very similar to todays soda kegs, but looks like an extremely early version.

[johnieG]

It's just a syrup dispencer ( although it is rather fancy), you'd pump the specific amount of syrup into a glass of ice, then you'd add the soda-water to the glass, wha-la rootbeer soda.

[evilmonkeybrewing]

Don't think it's just a syrup dispenser.  There is a gas-in port on the left hand side marked with a "C" (CO2 ?) and a gas-out port on the right hand side marked with an "A."  Coming down form the gas-in port is a long tube that goes about 3/4 the way down the tank and appears to be a carbonator.  My best guess is that the company shipped these with pre-carbonated soda or beer, and then the hand pump at the top was used to draw out the liquid after the initial pressure had subsided.