What is it?

In the image below is my 250 in a 69 Handi-Van. There is an extraneous bracket on the upper passenger side above the distributor. Attached to it with zip ties is a connector block with one wire heading to the battery and the other to the coil.

Here's a two-part skill-testing question: What is the bracket for? And, what is the connection block for? Any guesses out there?

Probably a newer engine with an air or power steering pump,,,,,,,,,,,looks like a cut off switch there,,,,because wiring is messed up,,,,,,

i would have to guess its the bracket for the air pump.
the a/c compressor they used when engines had points
was a long compressor, if it had an hei factory the compressor
used at that time was a round short one called the r4, but I think
its for a smog pump or air pump. jmtcw

Positive battery cable? And positive post on the coil?...…..What you are looking at is an aftermarket battery switch..... There is a big red plastic key that goes into the barrel end opposite the terminals and as you turn the key in the lock, it pushes inward to make contact internally between the two terminals and make connection.... If it's hooked to the positive terminals, then it is an ignition hotwire that bypasses the keyswitch to run (not to start)…...If it's hooked to the negative battery cable, then it is a killswitch to lock the ignition off by grounding it......It does nothing at all without that big red key, but is an unnecessary addition to the system anyway...