[Dave Moll]

Telegraphy is definitely part of telecommunications - and a very fine piece it looks. My personal preference would be to retain the patina rather than polish it up, but that's up to you as its owner. I would certainly advise leaving as is if you're intending to sell it.

Again, if it were mine I would want to have it working if at all possible. Is it possible to wire it such that signals from the key are looped back to the inker by way of a demonstration.