Key tool carried by Pullman Porter Robert Thomas

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A metal key believed to be used for opening an overhead bed and/or cabinet in a sleeper car. The metal key is in the shape of a lower case "t" and has a bend in the middle. The key has a round shaft with two handles on each side. Directly before the handles is a bend in the shaft. One side of the key is open with a square opening. The other side of the key is thicker has a standard screw like opening.

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