Although it LOOKS very similar to the rufflers, and pleaters mentioned above, the bottom is different, not having the 'teeth' to pull the fabric through at varying rates. I have had several of them over the years, with my very old machines. It does however, have a suquare hole in the front, leading me to belive it is for attaching trims, ribbons, etc by feeding them through the hole.

Thank goodness for modern electronic machines!