All the Whistles and Bells

Well I am still here.  Having recently been traveling all around the south from Atlanta to Charleston, Savannah to New Orleans, I have scarcely had time to even be home, let along write here.  I did one evening, while sitting in my hotel room, take an updated look at the Library of Congress newspaper archive system Library of Congress Newspaper Archive Link

I have searched these before, but this time I tried some new search terms and had a fun surprise.  Well more than a fun surprise, a great surprise.

Here was an ad from 1894 discussing the benefits of some of the other houses of Keller Row.  I was first shocked to find out that the house indeed had servant bells! I have added them to my home, simply because I wanted to dress the house up a bit.   Here is a link about the buttons and annunciator box I have  Servant buttons and Annunciator

The second shock was that the house had speaking tubes.  How incredible! Then it clicked in my head.  While doing work in the library I found an odd tube going from the 2nd floor hallway back to the kitchen.  The tube was simply galvanized tin.  It wasn't  for gas I thought, but what could it be for?  Then I discovered the article above and it all clicked.   They worked by speaking from one end to another in an open tube. The cool thing was that they had a whistle, like a kettle on each end, which is the flap that you see in the photos.  One end could blow a puff of air through the tube and alert the other side with a whistle to open their end to speak.  How awesome is that?

View of the remains of the tube in the ceiling.  It went to the upstairs hallway and traveled the length of the house back to the kitchen.  I have yet to find where in the kitchen it ended.  Another find for the future.

I then began searching all about speaking tubes.  I found many great photos from one website:  Speaking Tubes

Speaking tube in a house in San Francisco.

I then began searching Ebay and every other site I could think of to see if I could find the mouth pieces.  Once I found the remains of one in my house, I knew they had to go back.  I then stumbled across a metal smith who had actually made a few for a client.  Master Metal Man  Unfortunately for me, it is rather labor intensive for the man to make them and it was cheaper to but more, but still expensive.  Perhaps if a few dozen of us went in together we could get some made? :)

So I now need 2 speaking tube mouth pieces and a floor key for my servant button.  So my house really did come with all the bells and whistles in 1889!!  Any suggestions?

So if you have an idea where I could find either of these fabulous Victorian contraptions let me know!

Since I have been gone traveling around I'll share a few photos...

Jekyll Island GA Live Oaks

 Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana.  The house is lovely, but everyone comes for this view.

One of the squares of beautiful Savannah GA

Lovely house of St. Simon Island, GA

The estate of Biltmore located just outside of Asheville NC.  Really a peaceful place.

Longwood in Natchez MS.  The unfinished dream

Stanton Hall, also in Natchez MS and the interiors are spectacular!

Stanton Hall Parlor.

So until next time friends! 

If you like what you read on my blog and would like to contribute to the house restoration please click the donate button below. All donations will be GREATLY appreciated!! You will also be publicly thanked if you wish on a contributes page I hope to add at some point in the future.