There are two clubs, the Antique Telephone Collectors Association (ATCA) and the Telephone Collectors International (TCI) that have members all over the country. They would be very interested in the switchboard.
If your relative can talk to you over the phone and give you some basic information, that would save you a trip.
On the front of most, if not all, models of Western Electric switchboards, there is a card with operating instructions. On these cards, there is the model number of the board. The numbers always start with the digits 55x, unless it is a very old (700-series) or very recent (1970's ...608 model) board. For instance, 550, 551, 552, 555, 556, 557, etc.
If it's not a WE board, it would be good to know who made it.
If you can, also find out how many jacks for trunks (usually along the bottom of the jack field) and how many extensions (above the trunk jacks). That would also help identify it. Knowing where it was installed, if possible, also can help. Was it from a hotel, factory, old telephone company central office, answering service...etc?
Is there anyone in the area who can take and transmit a digital photo to you via email?
Not to get your hopes up (or down)...these boards are not as rare as some people assume, but they can fetch prices in the $250 to $500 range for not-so-rare ones.
I have several boards, (my opinion is "several"... my wife's opinion is unprintable) so I'm not personally interested in getting another one, but feel free to send me an email (address in my profile) and we'll talk about it.
