There is a key to lock it closed, and the same key will lock it either on or off. In keeping with a Victorian Bell/Butler Board but not near it in the house.

I guess it must be some kind of isolator switch, but I know nothing of its history.

    • AttackBunny@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Agreed, but without seeing the rest (back mostly) hard to say exactly what it does.

      If it’s part of the butler bell, how many rooms were on it? It may have been a switch to make it go to all rooms in on position and only selected rooms in another. Just guessing here.

        • AttackBunny@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Both switches would turn off/on at the same time. If one was a door bell and the other the butler bell, this switch would make them both ring at the same time.

  • AbidingOhmsLaw@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Looks like a antique double pole single throw switch (DPST) meaning it has two single switches connected mechanically but separate electrically (it can switch on and off two circuits at the same time). The contacts look fairly beefy so I would guess it could handle fair amount of current and the lock may have been to just keep people from getting shocked. Might have been the cutoff for the power to the bell board.

    Edit: Looked around and can’t find one like that. Is there a plate on it anywhere? Could you show the cover and back of the box.

      • AbidingOhmsLaw@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Guessing by the size of the wires this was meant to switch Mains power and was set to cut/connect both legs at the same time. Since you mentioned a butler call board, it could have been used like this.

  • GreenPlasticSushiGrass@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Are there any markings on the bottom or anywhere else?

    I enjoyed r/whatisthisthing, and I hope c/whatisthisthing catches on! Challenge mode is a great idea.

  • sorebuttfromsitting@sopuli.xyz
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    1 year ago

    Is it mounted to the wall? What’s behind it? What’s on the left of the hinges?

    Some sort of locking mechanism, I don’t know, just curious about the context.