Long before the ‘speaking tubes’ used in the fictional Kingdom of Rubovia (you don’t remember it?! – click here), a similar invention was shown and demonstrated at the British Association by a Mr. Whishaw.
–“Good News for Pluralists –
At a recent meeting of the British Association, Mr. Whishaw exhibited the Telakouphanon, or speaking-trumpet; and in doing so said that speaking tubes of gutta percha were quite new, as were also the means of calling attention by them of the person at a distance, which was accomplished by the insertion of a whistle, which being blown sounded at the other end quite shrilly. Attention having been thus obtained, you remove the whistle, and by simply whispering the voice would be conveyed quite audibly for at least three quarters of a mile, and a conversation kept up. He then amused the auditors by causing the end of the tube, which was of the length of 100 feet, to be inserted into the mouth-piece of a flute held in a person’s hand, regulated the notes, and placing his own mouth to the other end of the tube, ‘God save the Queen’ was played at a distance of 100 feet from the person giving the flute breath. Turning to the Bishop of St. David’s, he said that, in the event of a clergyman’s having three livings, he might, by the aid of three of these tubes, preach the same sermon in three different churches at the same time!”
The Stamford Mercury, 26th January, 1894.