Telegraph Sounder Equipment

I picked this up from an old railroad collection some 14 years ago. When I acquired it I just assumed it was railroad related, figured it was a portable sounder and key used out in remote areas. Years later, like just recently, I learned it is actually World War One related. It is a British made portable field sounder/key equipment (Gilbert Brothers Field box) used by British and American soldiers on the frontlines and in trenches. This particular one is dated 1916 on the brass key. Not sure how it ended up in his railroad collection but it did. Now it resides in my railroad collection. More info can be read here.

http://www.rcsigs.ca/index.php/Gilbert_Brothers_Baseboard_Set