I think those are ohmmeters, actually. I forget what they call them, but the one they used on me to show me that I need help was an ohmmeter. I declined the help; I was only there because a smokin' hot blonde woman at Balboa Park invited me. Back in the seventies.
Yeah it's sort of a, "You see that blonde, yeah she likes you too . . . okay now you're interested come see me in the morning, cause you're sure as shit going to hell cause she's easy!"