Double Bass Whats the deal with this mute?

[Bwilsonbass]

I acquired this mute years ago and just recently started really messing around with it. I for sure quiets the bass a little but it also focuses the sound and makes some really cool resonance on the bridge. Has anyone ever seen one or have any info?? I know nothing about it. Made of wood with three metal bars going through- there is a piece of velcro on the face of it which makes me wonder if it was somehow used as an easily removable pickup.

 

[Francois Blais]

Looks a bit homemade to me.

 

[robobass]

Yes, it looks like a carefully designed one-off practice mute. You can probably push the steel rods in and out to adjust the damping effect. I doubt this thing is in any way involved with a pickup.