Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd arc lamp switch, c. 1906

Object was used at Leith Docks, where it was mounted inside the base of the lamp standard. Its purpose was to enable electricians to cut of the lamp and yet permit all the other lamps on the switch to operate. It was operated by a key, insulated with only a few layers of insulation tape, so the electrician had to be careful not to touch the live parts of the switch!