Comments on: Victorian Speaking Tube: Deja Vu

By: Georgia

Georgia — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:44:15 +0000

Did anyone ever find a source for the mouthpieces? We are missing one.

By: Jamie Mathy

Jamie Mathy — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:29:46 +0000

We bought an old 1904 Craftsman and had a tube in one bedroom upstairs we never knew where it went. Its not as ornate as this – more of just a brass cone embedded in the plaster. Just like everyone else, during a kitchen remodel we found the other ends. we have 1 to that bedroom, and 1 to our finished attic, and if you just yell really loud you can hear and talk. I’m interested in 3 mouthpieces, if we can get this going. Email me any time at jamie@jamiemathy.com Thanks!

By: Vince Griffin

Vince Griffin — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:42:01 +0000

I am the one who started this thread in May of 2008 and I regretfully am still on my quest. Since 2008 I have attained 2 different speaking tube mouthpieces. One is very similar to the original photo that I put up in 2008 and the other is a little more ornate because it is made out of brass. I would be fine with either accept for the need for a twin mouthpiece for each that I have. I have also looked into having new mouthpieces made to fit into the old tin pipe. I wasn’t too thrilled with the firm that I was going to contract to do the work for me. My idea was to mass produce about 100 mouthpieces in order to both keep the cost per piece down and to meet the high demand for these elusive speaking tube parts. I will now look to a new vendor for manufacturing and maybe the next time you type “Speaking Tube” into a search engine you will be directed to my site where the new mouthpieces will be for sale.

By: Edward

Edward — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:54:38 +0000

I have had no luck finding any replacement mouth pieces since my last comment in Oct 2008. Let me know if anyone else has.

By: Richard Ross

Richard Ross — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:35:38 +0000

This reader has just discovered this site, and has need of both end mouth pieces for a speaking tube. I am wanting to share in production of these items. Thanks, Richard Ross, Wash,D.C.

By: Harvey

Harvey — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 02:25:49 +0000

What is the status of speaking tubes? I am glad others are interested in this subject. Have been looking for two ends for about twenty years. Please comment of the success of finding such items.

By: Dylan Landis

Dylan Landis — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:07:55 +0000

I’m so happy to have found this site! For research on my second novel, could someone who has used a speaking tube kindly try to describe the quality of the sound when you are listening from the kitchen? (For example: is it distant? Is there hissing? Crackling?) Anything at all would be enormously helpful. Thanks.

By: kevin

kevin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:53:41 +0000

i have been looking for almost 18 years. i am very interesting in the idea of having someone remanufacture these units. i would need at least 3

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:15:14 +0000

i found a pic of one on http://www.oldnautibits.com/stock_php/ship_fittings.php

also some “tin” maritime ones from ebay in england.

http://cgi.ebay.com/lot-of-31-origional-1917-nautical-ships-speaking-tubes_W0QQitemZ180405216297QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a00fd2429&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

if you find any copper ones please let me know

By: Maureen

Maureen — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:16:46 +0000

We need 2 like displayed in the left hand picture above. We have looked everywhere(salvage yards, antique stores, resoration hardward web sites, EBay). No luck.

I’ll would love to join in the production of these. Let’s do it!

By: Pete Mack

Pete Mack — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:00:09 +0000

I own an 1892 Victorian house in upstate NY. I have four of these speaking tubes in my house. One at the front door and one in the kitchen which lead to two tubes on the second floor hallway.

Only one was missing in the kitchen when I bought the house. A visit to the local salvage yard and now both sets function perfect. The best place to find them is in architectural salvage yards or occasionally one will come up for sale on EBay.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:28:23 +0000

My granny has a house built in 1885 and we recently found the old speaking tube. I would also be interested in purchasing two mouthpieces for her if any find them or someone who could make them. Thanks.

By: Lonnie

Lonnie — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:07:15 +0000

Count me in! We have a 1931 2-family house that required new walls after a frozen pipe water disaster. Inside the walls we found the tin pipe leading to the basement and a hole at the front door. We hope to find the connecting pipe in the basement ceiling. A neighbor gave us his speaking tube. A bit bent, but seems otherwise to be in good condition. But we have nothing for the other end and would like it. If no-one has fabricated this yet, I have have connections at the university to someone who could. lonniechu@gmail.com

By: n. michaud

n. michaud — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:14:51 +0000

I wonder if anyone has access to the information at the Smithsonian or at the Maritime Museum. It seems to me that either of those might have samples or plans or something about these tubes. Didn’t old ships pre-electricity use similar tubes? Again if someone can get tubes made I want to buy 2. Thanks

By: Edward

Edward — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:44:07 +0000

I have three tubes in my 1899 NYC brownstone exactly like the above illustration. The threee mouthpieces in the kitchen are intact and functioning but the three on the upper floors are missing. I would be happy to buy or participate in having some made.

Edward