Anyone know what timer this is and when it was used?
Its solid brass.
It's a "Never Fail."
Click on the link below to see a 1921 ad from the Saturday Evening Post - hopefully it will work for you.
http://books.google.com/books?id=TGswAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA36&lpg=RA1-PA36&dq=%22nev er+fail%22+timer+ford&source=bl&ots=PTfNm5n88n&sig=KZ5VDdoU7k6SJUZW6QLdPXqOuwc&h l=en&sa=X&ei=onFgUojZEOmMyAG1i4HYAQ&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22never%20fail% 22%20timer%20ford&f=false