Night watchman’s key safe

A small wall-mounted cast iron box with a lockable hinged front.
This object once housed a key that was used with a watchman’s portable timekeeper, sometimes referred to as a ‘tell-tale watch.’. The key would make a time-stamp on a chronograph paper inside the watch to record that the watchman had been doing his rounds.

Object Details

ID: ZBA7533
Type: Night watchman’s key safe
Display location: Not on display
Creator: National Time Recorder Co. Ltd.
Date made: Mid 20th Century
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 70 mm x 90 mm x 40 mm