This is a beautiful example of a ship's engine order telegraph, a communication device used historically, and still on some older vessels, to transmit speed and direction orders from the bridge to the engine room. "STAND BY" means the engines are ready to receive orders. "DEAD SLOW," "SLOW," "HALF," and "FULL" indicate increasing speeds. "ASTERN" means reverse. "FINISHED WITH ENGINES" means the engines are no longer needed. This one was made by J.W. Ray & Co. Ltd., a company based in Liverpool and London, known for marine instruments.