Clouds Hill Victorian House Museum . . . A Portal to the Past

What's it?  Speaking Tubes a.k.a. Voice Pipes a.k.a. Whistling Tubes Speaking tubes came into use in the 1840s.  The disc containing the whistle can be lifted to allow blowing or talking.  The speaking tube supplemented the bells that were operated in the upstairs rooms and rang in the servant's quarters in homes in the 19th century.