Hotel (UK) Call Board

[2x4misc]

Here, once again, I buy an item that I think is cool for display but not really sure what it is. Can you all take a look and give opinion?

Thanks
Ray

[bigwull]

Its a control board for either as you think...a Hotel...or more likely a large mansion house that would have had a button in each room.that when pressed ..a bell would ring/buzzer...to summon room service...the older ones had a row of small bells in the kitchen..that were linked by metal cables to all the rooms...this one i think is linked electrically....and when a button was pushed the corresponding number on the board would flash or a disc would shown and the bell /buzzer would sound....
on closer inspection of this board..i can see that it has thumbturns along the top...which tell me that this one is electric...it would have been a low voltage.via a transformer .that was used...i.e. 12v 24v or 30v..

[2x4misc]

Would you say this is from early 1900s ?or 1920s?

[KC]

I would say from the early 1900's and that it s from across the pond!

9 bedrooms....Wow, with drawing room (parlor).  (I have a 6 bedroom and need to install this...but for me to summon the family to do chores!  LOL)

 

[bigwull]

I,d beg to differ KC....any that i,ve seen over here..that were in early Victorian,and up to late Victorian...were operated with the wire system..which was run through the house in channels and in each room there would be a pull chain or cord hanging down..often near the fireplace...whereby when pulled it would actuate a bell that was on a hook in the kitchen or pantry....this one here is electric which means that in the rooms there would be a push button on the wall.
.
see link,scroll down approx 30...her,s a pic of a less ornate one from that link...and this one is priced at £485....circa late 1900 early 20th...

 

[KC]

I was going by the name:  Peter Stewart, Plumber, Aberdeen. And you predominantly see them from your side of the pond!

http://www.christies.com/lotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=4748393

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-servants-butlers-bell-box-/110955248567?pt=UK_Antiques_Architecural_RL&hash=item19d572bbb7

SERVANTS CALL BOX, 1930's  #a1166
http://www.museumoftechnology.org.uk/domestic.php

[bigwull]

My link is for this side....but those prices are retail...the auction price...is,nt to bad considering its a scabby looking one....compared to the one on here...

[bigwull]

Some info on Peter Stewart.Plumbers Aberdeen....this bell board...in my mind obviously came from Peter Stewarts.house...an d then when in 1907 his company went bust...perhaps his house was sold..or wharever...and this bell box is all thats remaining,


this is from the London Gazette 1907

pHE Co-partnery carrying on business under the firm
JL name or style of PETER STEWART, Plumber, Gas
Fitter, and Sanitary Engineer, at 2 and 4, Blackfriarsstreet,
Aberdeen, of which the subscribers, Peter Stewart,
residing at 41, Beechgrove-terrace, Aberdeen, and William
Bowie, residing at 67, Bon-Accord-street, Aberdeen, were
the sole partners, was dissolved of mutual consent by the
retiral therefrom of the subscriber, Peter Stewart, on the
llth day of June, 1907. All claims due by and to said
dissolved firm will be paid and received at the office,
Blackfriars-street, Aberdeen. The subscriber, William
Bowie, will continue and carry on the business of
Plumber, Gas Fitter, and Sanitary Engineer, but on his
own account and for his own behoof at 2 and 4, Blackfriars-
street, Aberdeen, and under the name of " Peter
Stewart."—Dated at Aberdeen this 3rd day of July, 1907.
PETER STEWART.
 WILLIAM BOWIE

[talesofthesevenseas]

I used to work at the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose CA. They have one there and the name they use for it there is a "servants call box". The Winchester servants call box was in use from the late Victorian era through the early 1920's:

[KC]

THAT IS TOOOOOOOOOO COOL!!!!!!

Wully....great information!

I personally haven't seen any boards made with the homeowner's name on them  Especially when this fella' made these from what I gather here.

[2x4misc]

You all are an amazing wealth of knowledge and appreciate all the information shared by the team here. I now know what I bought - on a whim. I bought it as a cool display piece for my den.

[bigwull]

KC.if I may call you that!....or is it the other K.C. ...this guy Peter Stewart,did,nt make this bell box...all he did was have his business name put on it.....but what it does do.is add value to it...its a bit of provenance...

[talesofthesevenseas]

Oops, corrected the dead image on the Winchester Mystery House servants call box.

[KC]

bigwull, I prefer honorable-most-fun-super-human-and-at-times-extreme-KC....but because it is too long (and not realistic at all) KC is fine!  LOLOL

Most definitely adds value with provenance!!!!!

Why I am confused is because this lists bedrooms....and his business was Plumber, Gas Fitter and Sanitary Engineer and the business with his name was continued by William Bowie at the same address.  Do you think this could have come from his business address and it was converted into living quarters?  Or you think he really had that big of a home?  (tried to get city records and they don't have them as readily available as they do on this side of the pond.  Also, from satellite pictures of the area and the home at his listed address is small (and even if it was still the one from the 1900's the lot/homes in this area aren't large ones)  but the building he was doing business could have been large enough and converted!  In fact if you look off of St Andrews at the back side of the business address you can see they were converted into living quarters.  

I am most likely over-thinking this...just love the adventure!

[sapphire]

As Mr. Bowie took over the company (and residence?) yet still retained the former company name and if the bell box already bore the Stewart name, it's not likely Mr. Bowie spent much time in, nor took much notice of such a minor detail in the servants area. 

"The subscriber, William
Bowie, will continue and carry on the business of
Plumber, Gas Fitter, and Sanitary Engineer, but on his
own account and for his own behoof at 2 and 4, Blackfriars-
street, Aberdeen, and under the name of " Peter
Stewart."