Came across this on a home I did a radon test on this week. I found two of them in this 1906 historical home. I haven’t done any research on Google yet, but thought maybe someone would know off-hand what they were for. Seems like some type of early intercom system to me.
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Speaking tube.
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Pretty cool!
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I can hear momma now “Don’t make me come down these stairs!”
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I was picturing more…
“Mom, can you bring me up some of those chocolate chip cookies?”
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You had a better childhood than me apparently! 
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It’s kinda funny that there is a little handle to “close off” the tube. Like, when you were done speaking you could close it so the other person couldn’t hear the noise from upstairs anymore, lol.
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Damm. We only had maids.
I doubt it was very satisfying
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The flap closed by the handle has a hole in it, slightly dented on the bottom. I’m thinking it’s a whistle!
Blow into the tube downstairs and it will whistle upstairs to alert you that you are wanted on the tube!!
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I was wondering about the hole. I bet you’re right!
Very interesting…All I had was a tomato can with a string…
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It is indeed a whistle to alert the other end!
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