I had the same thoughts from visual examination but it just seemed too elaborate for that and it also has a 1987 manufacturing date! That would make it extremely anachronistic for the time. However, I just made a few measurements and it would seem that it is in fact just a very old fashioned multimeter, although one that just measures AC and DC, volts and amps. I was going to ebay it but I'm now inclined to keep it for curiosity factor and that it is beautifully made. It even has one of the current shunts mounted externally on the side in a ventilated box, and a replacable thermocouple for temp compensation!