Dividing Engine: Steampunk

The dividing engine was a marvelous thing to behold, a creation of steam and iron and magic. It was also scary, at least when one was only a ten-year-old boy who had never expected to be brought before it. It was a great honor, everybody said, but he'd only ever planned on working in his father's shop and being the best student and son that he could be. He hadn't expected to save a boy who nearly fell in front of the automobile of the Prime Minister, and therefor to be brought to the attention of the lords. He had certainly never expected that their capricious reward would be a declaration that he should be Divided, as fit reward for his service above and beyond the expected for his station. It was only children of nobility who were brought before the--

Inspiration: "dividing engine"
Story Potential: High.
Notes: Shades of Philip Pullman.... I don't know what the Dividing Engine does, certainly not that, but I want to find out! Could be a nifty steampunk coming-of-age story.