extraordinary and very rare early 20th century remarkably intact new york city subway sub-station single panel open front switchboard designed and fabricated by the metropolitan electric mfg. co., new york city, ny., founded in 1892. the exceptional wall-mount switchboard panel features a solid beveled edge insulator back plate with a well-executed polychromatic "faux" allover marbleized finish. the multitude of "knife" switches and interconnected flat strip busbars are comprised of solid copper. the master knife switch with single black enameled turned wood handle is positioned at the very top. the original manufacturer's plaque is affixed directly to the slate back. each switch is equipped with an unusually-shaped black "lava" pressed and/or formed handle. numbers corresponding to the switches are deeply incised in the vertically positioned busbars. the flat head terminal copper screws are all intact. the panel was salvaged from a new york city subway sub-station. dates to 1904-10.