What *IS* that contraption supposed to be out from there?
A turbo-charger?

If I recall correctly I think it was when I looked it up a few years ago. But since that time I haven't remembered completely.

It is a super charger. Atleast on the original ones that it.

So then, am I to assume like, the old GM superchargers, it's powered directly off the engine (crankshaft in this case)?
I know the difference is that a supercharger runs full time, the turbo only kicking in when needed.

uhhhhh,...no. Difference is that power to compress the intake charge comes from different sources. In a supercharger it is mechanically taken from the engine's rotating assembly (pulleys or, in this case, directly off the crank it seems as you pointed out). A turbo charger uses exhaust gasses to spin a turbine which in turn spins a compressor that compresses the intake charge. Turbos work full-time just like superchargers but at low throttle the exhaust gas velocity is insufficient to generate meaningful boost pressure whereas the power curve on a supercharger is linear due to its perfect match to engine RPMs. That lag in time taken for a turbo to "spool up" is known as "turbo lag" or "spool time" usually.

Right.

an MG channeling a bentley! how creative! makes you wonder if this was a factory thing or not!

mmm that is so sexy