Comments on: Victorian Speaking Tube: Deja Vu

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 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

By: Vince

Vince — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:12:20 +0000

John, The backing plate or trim piece was usually made on site by the carpenter. As for an instruction card, there weren’t any. It is pretty plain to see that if the speaking tube whistled then someone on the other end wanted to be heard. The little trigger would move the whistle disc out of the way so the sender and the sendie person could communicate.
I was the one who had the illustration at the beginning of this thread. I am still trying to locate 2 of these illusive pieces of hardware. I’m very interested in the fabricate new ones idea.
Vince

By: n. michaud

n. michaud — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:31:40 +0000

If someone can get them made I would buy 2 of them. I prefer the tin since it seems to be authentic. Let me know when you have a price. thanks Nadja

By: Jody Oster

Jody Oster — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:51:10 +0000

Are you interested in selling them?

By: John

John — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:21:34 +0000

I have the exact same tube as pictured - both ends and am wondering if anybody knows if there was a backing plate or an instruction card that came with the original speaking ends.

By: Jody Oster

Jody Oster — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:05:02 +0000

OK. The jewelry maker is a no go. However, I’ve got what I beleive is a better source who will consider making these. I’m willing to start the process by providing drawings, measurements, etc. I am reluctant, since I have just one, to send my only one to the source for reproduction. Do any of you have more than one that you might be willing to donate to the common cause? If not, I’ll go forward with the drawing and see what we can do. I will need some feedback as to how many each of you would like and in what material (mine is nickel plated tin, which is what I would ask the source to make). I have no idea (emphasize) about the cost, but it sems to me that if I let him know the total of what I need, he might be more flexible with the price. Well, what do you say out there?

Jody

By: Maureen

Maureen — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:12:02 +0000

How did things go with the jeweler? My husband and I also need 2-3 of the speaking cones for a craftsman style house we bought this year. We have one cone now. I too would be interested in commissioning a few to be produced.

By: kive kerr

kive kerr — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:34:09 +0000

I would be interested in 4 to 6 of the tubes at least. Please let me know and we’ll go from there. Thanks, Kive