old STOP-START STATION switchbox

I really should clean out the back seat of my truck more often, I suppose...while otherwise digging deep the other day for something else entirely, I found this cool old STOP-START pushbutton switch buried in under all the rest of the stuff. Besides not really knowing how long it has been riding around back there with me, I honestly don't really even recall *where I got it* in the first place...?? <headdesk>

Oh well -- doesn't matter I guess, I *do* certainly understand why I saved it from something, since it is otherwise a lovely old and intact example of such a switch (called a "STOP-START STATION" in electrical trades) as made by "INDUSTRIAL CONTROLLER CO. of MILWAUKEE, WIS.". Its original wiring exists in it exactly as seen, having been cut cleanly just beyond the photo borders here. Measuring approximately the same size as a common light switch, it is a nicely made heavy steel shiny black painted box with the brass nameplate on one side. I don't know exactly how old, guessing 1930's-ish to be safe. Its inner mechanisms look complete and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it actually still works just as well as when new, whenever that actually was.