Bidspirit auction | Lake Shore and Michigan Southern

Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Brass Switch Key by Wilson Bohannan - A cast brass railroad switch key from the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway (L.S. & M.S. R.R.). The key features a circular bow with a central perforation and a barrel showing a visible assembly seam. The bitted end is designed for use in a lever-tumbler lock, and the tip of the barrel is hollow to accommodate a lock pin. One side of the bow is stamped with the characters L.S. & M.S. R.R. denoting the railroad company. The opposite side is stamped with the manufacturer mark W. BOHANNAN BROOKLYN N.Y. and a single letter S for switch. This hardware was produced by the Wilson Bohannan company of Brooklyn, New York, a prominent manufacturer of railroad locks and keys during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The key is in good vintage condition with a well-developed, dark gold-toned patina and minor surface oxidation. It shows signs of wear consistent with historical functional use, including surface abrasions and slight softening of the stamped inscriptions.