Victorian Communication Hack! The Secret Purpose Behind These Mysterious Mailbox Holes!
September 27, 2024
source: Worth Point
The image shows a mailbox panel in the vestibule of a two-flat apartment building from 1899. The holes above and below the panel serve specific purposes:
- Top Hole (Above Mail Slot): This is a Victorian speaking tube. Speaking tubes were an early communication system, allowing people inside the building to speak directly to someone at the front door or another location in the building without having to open the door.
- Bottom Hole (Below Mail Slot): This housed the bell mechanism or pull cord, which would alert residents to someone at the door. The lower hole was part of a functional, mechanical system to communicate or signal, much like modern intercoms and doorbells.
These features reflect the building’s original design, which blended both function and style typical of the era.
