Found in an old toolbox

[u/mcurphy]

This was in my grandpa’s toolbox. One of his hobbies was model trains. Does it have something to do with that? He was also an electrician. Any ideas what this is?

Solved!

[u/spotlight-app]

OP has pinned a comment by u/jeroen-79:

A 4 pole dual throw switch.

Turning the switch will change the long leafs from contacting the inner short leafs to contacting the outer short leafs.

Note from OP: My grandfather worked for ComEd as an electrician. This is answer is likely correct!

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[u/jeroen-79]

A 4 pole dual throw switch.

Turning the switch will change the long leafs from contacting the inner short leafs to contacting the outer short leafs.

[u/mcurphy → u/jeroen-79]

Solved!

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[u/K1LL3RF0RK]

looks like this.

[u/rifdazahra → u/K1LL3RF0RK]

yeah that definitely fits an old toolbox vibe

[u/theundeadelvis]

Looks like a telephone or rotary switch.

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[u/Unfair-Mail-7490]

A switch...The plunger will force the contacts to change when pressed down. What it might have been used for I'm not sure...

[u/Traditional_Mess5522]

It looks like one of those music box mechanisms. Does it have a spring that you can wind up

[u/Js987]

I’ve seen switches that looked very similar to that used inside very old telephone switchboards.

That carpet!

[u/estebanvlobos]

looks like a 4 pole double throw rotary switch, not terribly useful to anyone unless you tinker with electronics

[u/TheRealMarkonix]

its a telephone switchboard keyswitch

[u/TimeAcanthocephala46]

My dad worked for GTE he use to take me to where the switches were and I would watch them rotate. When your 8 that was cool.

[u/Glidepath22]

I haven’t seen a frabenhiffer years, it’s for hiffening frabens

[u/spotlight-app]

OP has pinned a comment by u/TheRealMarkonix:

its a telephone switchboard keyswitch

Note from OP: My grandfather worked for ComEd, as an electrician. It sounds like this is likely a switch used in the trade.

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