Crosely built a lot of specialized engines during WWII; small drone powerplants, starter “donkey” engines for larger engines (earth moving equipment), auxiliary power supply (generators) for PT boats, B-17 bombers, pumps sets, etc.
Early Crosely’s were fabricated from plate steel (to minimize hot spots due to inconsistent material thickness in casting); later models (for automotive use) were cast iron.
Wonder if this was a production engine, or as you posted, a “sales sample”?