Comments on: Victorian Speaking Tube: Deja Vu

By: Michael Brannin

Michael Brannin — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 23:33:45 +0000

We just discovered that our 1912 Bungalow has speaking tubes also. while remodelling the kitchen we found an odd tin tube with an elbow that appeared to go upstairs and also a tube to the basement. In the attic we say also that the tubes went from the second floor master bedroom to the kitchen (and maybe basement?). The tubes have been cut in the attic but could be restored. Any mouthpieces seem to be missing completely, but I will go to the basement to investigate if there is one there. We too would be interested in finding reproductions or originals of that period. This is all to fascinating to us. We will leave the tube exposed in the wall as we finish off the kitchen in hopes of finding a mouthpiece. A bit of history exposed is a good thing!

By: Dwight Bennett

Dwight Bennett — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 11:16:42 +0000

Hi all!
I have just designed some WHISTLING SPEAKING TUBES based on a speaking tube from an 1880 Victorian home– a home that had a dedicated door bell button beside the speaking tube. Although this unit never came with a whistle, I used Victorian hardware for my inspiration to create a whistle in its lid. I invite you to see my Facebook page under MasterMetalMan / MasterMetalMan.com
Thanks,
Dwight Bennett

By: Pete Muller

Pete Muller — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 19:38:33 +0000

I have one!

By: Marc DeAngelis

Marc DeAngelis — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 00:14:13 +0000

In reply to nadja michaud. Dear Nadja, I know this must be an old posting. My wife and I purchased a 7,000 sq ft 24 room mansion in Central NY Finger Lakes region. Our house has over 25 speaking tubes that go from the the main floor up to the 4th floor. All of our speaking tunes are in perfect working condition. We have used them frequently when our children were small. They are designed to blow into the tube to produce a whistle sound. They amaze me to the absolute clarity of sound. For a so called primitive system they are quite sensitive. If you put your ear to the tune you could almost hear a pin drop. Our ear, speaking parts are made of white porceline. The inner parts are metal with a small hole in the Middle with a little flipper to open the inner part to talk. I did not realize the rarity of these units until I started researching them for fun. As an idea on how to accurately reproduce them is to make a plaster casting st a local ceramic shop. They could reproduce they by firing clay ang using a white glaze. I hope this is useful to your search. Sincerely, Marc DeAngelis. Please feel free to contact me .

By: ed

ed — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 21:32:30 +0000

i just found 1 mouth piece mounted to a 1 1/2″ piece of wood.
i will be listing it on ebay this sunday 11-20-2016 if your interested.

By: Larry Shaw

Larry Shaw — Mon, 23 May 2016 18:10:18 +0000

I have also been looking, since 1986, for a metal, nickel plated end. My system is complete except for the one end, and in place. Mine runs from the dining room to the man’s bedroom, which was almost a straight run with only about a 4′ dogleg. I am refinishing the Dining room wall and would like to install the second end prior to completion. Our Ohio home was built around 1895-99, and is a 3,000 sq. ft. brick type. Originally had gas lighting. If I cannot find a replacement soon, “X” will mark the spot!

By: Kevin R

Kevin R — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 03:16:14 +0000

In reply to Jody Oster. Jody, Were you ever able to get some of these speaking tube mouthpieces made? I am in need of two for my 1893 Victorian. Kevin

By: Kriss

Kriss — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:54:26 +0000

I also have 2 of these Victorian speaking tubes, completely in tact! One goes to the basement up to the hall on the main floor and one from the parlor to the upstairs bedroom (or what would have been an upper parlor maybe). My house was built in 1880.
Mine are completely brass!
I don’t know how to post a picture here, but if you click on my fb link, you will see a picture: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Win-High-Street-Victorian-Bed-Breakfast/483007321857688

By: Dana De Lara

Dana De Lara — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 02:10:58 +0000

Looking for (4) with porcelain mouthpiece and indicator on speaking tube.
My sister and I had them in our home our whole lives.
Through an unfortunate event all were stolen from the house.
Many years later (10)we are still looking for them. If anyone has one that we may replicate or knows of someone who’s done this please let us know.

By: Rachel Crawford

Rachel Crawford — Mon, 18 May 2015 03:55:02 +0000

In reply to Linden.

http://www.rarepartsforrarecars.com/slideshow13.html#5

By: Rachel Crawford

Rachel Crawford — Mon, 18 May 2015 03:54:46 +0000

In reply to Valerie.

Reproduction?
http://www.rarepartsforrarecars.com/slideshow13.html#5

By: Rachel Crawford

Rachel Crawford — Mon, 18 May 2015 03:53:52 +0000

In reply to Dan.

I know it has been some time, but perhaps this gentleman could make you a repro.
http://www.rarepartsforrarecars.com/slideshow13.html#5

By: Rachel Crawford

Rachel Crawford — Mon, 18 May 2015 03:50:23 +0000

The house in which we lived when I was in high school had these. It was so cool. The house had been contructed as a duplex by two ladies who were best friends and professors at the University of Alabama. My parents renovated and made it into a single family home. There were speaking tubes that went from each of the two rear bedrooms to the kitchen(s) below, and to each other. They had the covers that had the whistle holes, but though we used the speaking tubes regularly, we didn’t know about the whistle! If I ever go back to Tuscaloosa, I may knock on the door of the family who lives there.

I found this. Maybe it will help you all: http://www.rarepartsforrarecars.com/slideshow13.html#5

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 14:00:12 +0000

If someone has has a mouthpiece in decent shape (esp, a version without the whistle lever, since that adds complexity), it might be easy to do a 3D scan of the item to create an STL file. Then the STL could be posted and folks could download it (ideally for free, else for a nominal charge) and print it using a 3D printer. Besides white and black, 3D printers can now produce metallic colored items – seems like a perfect application for a 3D printer: a small, limited availability part that is demand by many homeowners.

If anyone can provide this, Thanks in Advance! If you want to do this but don’t have a clue on how to do a 3D scan, contact me.

Dan

By: Lonnie Chu

Lonnie Chu — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 17:23:42 +0000

I have a speaking tube whistle for sale on eBay right now:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Speaking-tube-whistle-so-rare-it-039-s-practically-unique-/271681151354?

Lonnie