…that is, the old version, from either 1943 or '53—I don’t know which.
I had seen this sometime back, and the MST3K thread reminded me of this movie, and moreover, this scene: Some official needs to communicate with, oh, another official; I simply forget. Anyway, the important bit is that Official #1 blew into a hose, thereby sounding a reed (?), which alerted Official #2, who then spoke into the tube and listened through it.
Basically—what is this thing called, and when was it invented, and when did it cease use? Was it known for working well (or well-enough)?
Just a little bit more information. I am a member of the Royal Navy rreserve and serve occasionally on a P2000 patrol craft which is issued with a speaking tube from the flying bridge down to the internal wheel house. Needless to say a P2000 is rather small so its easier to YELL. :rolleyes:
Our cruiser in the U.S. Navy had them, running between certain stations. They had one advantage over other communications methods - they were almost impossible to knock out.
Speaking tubes were also used in primary trainers in military flight training. There were called ‘gosports’ after Gosport, England where the speaking tube was developed. ThePensacola NAS newspaper is called the Gosport.
Here is a photo of the well dressedArmy Aviation Cadet (ca 1943). The funny looking tubes sticking out of his ears are for the gosport tubes to be pushed onto. The instructor spoke into a funnel on the other end of the tube. It was one way communication, no back talk. The fancy sheep lined flight suit is for show only. I put it on for the picture and never wore one again.
