I should have included some more information , the object is a tube/sleeve with the remains of a piston inside with push/return rod , hope this helps bob
It looks like a dashpot to me. The closed end of the cylinder should have an adjustable "hole" to let air in and out. I've seen smaller ones used in flight instruments to smooth the movement of inner parts during turbulence - could this be a simple shimmy damper of some sort?