Historical information
The brush/comb was used for identifying coating defects in steel mains. It was attached to a low voltage electrical supply and then used to brush along the steel pipe to test for faults in the coatings. If there is a fault in the coating, a spark would occur. The coating was propably coal tar
Significance
Possibly used in the Otway Water Supply System
Physical description
Rusted metal comb/brush, one side top half painted black to avoid conductivity of electrical current