Vintage Dairy Item

We are not quite sure what this piece is.  Have you seen one?  How does it work?  If  you know what this is, please inform us..  We would love to label this correctly.  Thank you, Layne for providing this picture.

Duane sent a photo of an item still produced and sold today (picture on the left).  It is a claw washer unit.  He says it looks like the old washer unit hung by the wash vat and was used for washing milker units.  Thanks for the info, Duane.