matching pair of antique american industrial early twentieth century double pull battery knife switches manufactured for the trumbull electric company in plainville, connecticut. the heavy white ceramic bases are intact, each having a single chip on the underside, and some surface wear. cast in the porcelain, one switch reads "cat. no. 710" with an encircled "t" logo on top, and "trumbull / battery / switch / pat. may 18, 1909" at bottom. the other switch is cast simply with the word "ideal" centrally on top. the contacts are copper, and retain nearly all original screws. a single contact is missing from one switch. the arms move easily, and fit snugly between the sets of contacts, moved by a hard rubber handle attached to the crosspiece by screw and washer. tarnish and discoloration are typical of age and date of manufacture. in 1899 john trumbull, his brother henry, and a business associate named frank t. wheeler founded an electric business in plainville, connecticut. they produced switches, appliances, and supplies under the name trumbull electric company, before changing it in 1903 to the trumbull electric manufacturing company. john served as the company’s president from 1911 until 1944. priced for the pair.