Northern Electric microphone

[cchaven]

I just received this carbon microphone today.  I bought it online and it's base appears to be a modified Northern Electric candlestick base with an octagon shaped ring holding the carbon microphone element.  It was restored by a collector in Canada and is in great shape.  Since I haven't been able to post pictures at all, here's a link to a photo of it I put up:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kdanvers2002/17318337604/

Any suggestions as to it's use and such?

Thanks
Jeff

< edit - external image added >