Here's what I have received thus far: Help!
1,2,3. Air brake gauges, but I don't know the order on these cars. Typically Main Reservoir, Brake Cylinder, Equalizing Reservoir, and Brake Pipe indications, two needles per gauge face on most installations, but I really have no clue for MU cars.
4. ????
5. cab signals - The three aspects were 15, 30, MAS Speed restriction lamps. There was a tiny air whistle which went off when allowed speed became more restrictive, to alert the motorman. Oops, the engineer.
6. Maybe headlamp switch, judging by position and similarity to 1930s vintage same.
7. Windshield Wiper pneumatic operating cylinder
8. Air pipe next to #8 rises to whistle above cab window, but I don't see the actuating valve, which is probably right where the supply pipe exits the interior of the cab above the window, where the whistle is mounted. If you mean the thing to the left of the number 8, that's probably the air brake control valve (minus handle which has been removed).
9. If you mean the square vertical bar to the right of the number, I'm gonna guess it's a collapsing gate for the engineer to keep from falling out the side if he chooses to leave the sliding door open in the hot summer days. Similar gates are used on most passenger cars at the end doors. If you mean the box below #8 and to the right of #10, it's a junction valve tee to connect the airbrake stand lockout valve (#10) to the air line up to the main control valve (#8).
10. Probably the lockout valve for the air brake stand, locked out when this end of the unit is not in service as a leading/controlling cab.
11. Probably dead-man's pedal (acknowledging pedal), had to be held down to avoid air brake application. Also used as lunchbox rest to relieve foot!
12 & lower key on 13, probably one is an operating key and the other is a dead-engine (or dead MU) lockout to authorize or lock out the entire control stand.
13. Throttle (controller) (bidirectional, forward clockwise and reverse counterclockwise
14/15/17. Wild guess here, but maybe one of them is the on/off switch for the cab heater (#16). Another could be the on/off switch for the overhead cab ceiling lamp. Another could be the on/off switch for the marker lamps if electric lamps were installed in this unit.
16. Electric cab heater for engineer's left knee, which is probably all that was kept warm! I remember Mark Smith's stories about how these cars leaked cold air like a sieve when plowing ahead.