Ships 'In/Out' Cabin Sign Board

Tom Ferrers–Walker served in the Royal Navy in WWII and when he left the service he decided to collect a range of Royal Navy artefacts and he dedicated the reminder of his life in assembling one of the most comprehensive private collections in the UK. He put in a tremendous amount of hard work (and cash! into the collection and was able to purchase items that included ships helms, tread plates and screen badges, tompions, plaques and much else besides. These were initially acquired directly by Mr Ferrers-Walker when the ships were sold out of service and broken up in the period after World War 11 but he continued his hobby right up until the 1990's when he sourced items from public auctions and private collectors. This Officers In/Out sign board is one of the more modest items from the collection but interesting none the less. Sadly we don't know what ship it came from but no doubt was originally mounted on an Officers cabin door and it is nice to speculate perhaps that of the Captain? It has clearly been made up on board by the ships carpenter and is made from mahogany with a sliding panel to indicate if the officer is 'In' or 'Out'.This would serve equally well today either ashore or afloat, perhaps on the door of the smallest room in the house? Measures 8.5" x 5.5" (22 cm x 14 cm)