Something a little different..

Now the camera I know a little about. It's a Koday Jiffy Six-16, made in Canada, with the esteemed Twindar lens. Not a particularly valuable specimen but very clean and tidy. As for the rest of this stuff, I'm pretty much in the dark. They're Kodak film tanks, obviously, and they're apparently used for developing film, but how this all works is a bit of a mystery. The larger tank has stamped inside the lid "2 1/2 inch Kodak film tank" and a list of patent numbers from 1906-7. So it's obviously quite old...The metal cylindrical object is hollow with a detachable lid which won't detach. Does anyone know if its a press fit or a left or right-hand screw? It has some large object, alluringly shifting around inside...The various spools and handles are obviously for winding film, and I have no idea what the little metal object with the loop and hook is for. If any of you clever Forum members can throw some light on this lot I'd be most appreciative.

It looks good. Nice deal for $15.00.

The wooden tank is a "darkroom" for rolling the film from the spool onto the developing reel. You wind the film, backing paper and all, onto the developing reel, which has wide flanges and an opaque black apron. Then you dunked the whole thing in the developing tank, and let it soak for some 20 or 30 minutes.
Rendered pretty useless today because the apron is inevitably brittle and stiff as a board, no longer usable. Also modern backing paper is pretty water-tight, whereas the old backing paper was much more permeable. So even if you made a new apron, the film would stay rather dry. Also, light-tight is relative, I doubt the apron was light-tight enough for ISO 400 flim -- this was from the day when 25 was a typical film speed.
The tank sets came in different sizes for at least 120, 116, and 122 film sizes, probably more.
The hook and loop is probably for taking the reel out of the tank.
One often sees the Kodak Film Tank in less than a complete set. It should include the wooden box, the crank(s), some internal parts, the reel for the tank with apron, and the tank.

Thanks, John , that gives me a pretty fair picture of the procedure. I guess the object still inside the tank is probably the reel and the apron. I'll just have to devise a way of loosening the lid..

The tank lid has a bayonet fitting. It will turn just a bit in the normal direction and then come straight up. They are tight.

You may want to cool the lower part of the tank in a bucket with ice and pour hot water on the top, to ease turning.

Heck, these would be worth more than $15 just as decorative items. I like them!

very nice find enjoy looking at them and think of the fun those folks had due-ing film in those days:

Ahah! Just as John predicted...a very brittle old apron, and the spool. The hot/cold treatment worked, (thanks Julio), aided by my trusty patented "Boa" rubber strap gripper. I can't see myself attempting any processing with this outfit, but it will make an interesting display. Thanks to you all for your advice and comments.