I recently bought a few machinist chests full of tools and other goodies. I'm not a machinist myself, but I'm familiar with a lot of the tools associated with the trade. This piece is a smooth solid steel cylinder with four equal spaced holes bored completely through it. It measures approximately 5.5" long and 2.25" diameter. Weighs almost 4-1/2 lbs. The end has stamped "Feb. 48 Eddie Champ." The other end is identical minus the engraving.
I suspect it might be a cylindrical square, but I've not seen examples quite like this. It came with a plastic sleeve.
I'd add that if I had to make a guess, he was apparently involved with creating spring-making machines, forming wire, and that seems like a good guess as to the relevant job he was at. I don't know how those spring coils are made, but I wonder if they involve jamming wire down a hole about that size.
hits Google Images
They do have some components on them that look similar to what you've got there:
https://www.google.com/search?q=spring+making+machine&tbs=imgo%3A1&udm=2
Like:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yYTgiAMSTNA
Or:
https://www.instructables.com/Spring-Making-Wire-Bending-Machine/?amp_page=true