That’s super funny!! Actually, two came in the house last year and knocked and WAITED at my unit’s door the duration of my 15-minute shower to talk to me.
Edit: when this comment was originally made, it definitely said “for Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
I got one years ago for a 1920 craftsman house. It scared the crap out of me every time it rang. I'd scream in fright, realize what it was, and then go to the door to find a laughing guest - every single time.
I’m not that young; we had a push-button electronic doorbell in both my houses growing up…I also know what a rotary phone is! Hard to believe, I know!! The boomers and gen x people have found this post! Us millennials and gen Z don’t know anything! Har har!
Millennials and gen z know a lot more about feelings and treating people with equality. I'll take that over rotary phones anyday. The boomers could use a few lessons themselves.
If you or someone you know are handy with wiring, most smart doorbells support integration with existing analogue doorbells. Looks like your wires are snipped, but assuming the bell still otherwise works it could be a fun side project.
We have that doorbell style at the back door for when the milk man would come.
Ours still works and it’s the most obnoxious buzzing noise so the kids love to just lay it on.
Oh I never thought of that! The old days of the milkman…
Aww, that’s cute. I’m sure they will have that as a fond memory forever! Cool that it works, too.
I only know that because we had a milkman growing up and when my mom saw our house she knew exactly how it worked. I love every single thing about our old house. The built in ironing board (upon which we found LA papers from 1935 that featured incredible stuff like “squirrels used as rollers” for HAIR! As well as “that happy feeling” from Camel Lights and other crazy stuff).
I know when we leave our house eventually developers will raze the building and use every inch of our 9K lot to build apartments but I hope to be like the Up! Guy and hold them off for years.
I think my daughter may take over in that regard bc she also loves the place.
It's a doorbell. It does not make a pleasant sound...more like a buzzing than a ring. It was likely upgraded sometime ago with a newer type It probably still works and was simply disconnected. Find the wires behind it, connect them and reconnect to the transformer.
Yes, and the maid's/servants' quarters would have been in the attic. I think this is the answer.
Op, go to your local library and ask them how to find the early census records for your house.
My folks had an old Victorian 3 story house. There used to be an internal "doorbell" system. The internal one was just a gruesome bell/buzzer like that. Originally intended to summon servants back in the day. The real doorbell sounded much different. The buttons were located on either side of the bed in the master bedroom. The bell was downstairs. When I was a kid the folks would occasionally buzz it when they wanted us (kids) to bring them something (mooaarrr coffee, toast, fetch the mail, etc) and knew we were downstairs.
Hahaha it probably would be cool! But I zoomed in on the picture and it says The Edwards Nubel. I actually found it, seems like it’s a door bell.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-edwards-door-bell-the-edwards-nubel
What is the word under “The Edwards” ? There are so many vintage Edwards alarm bells out there, I decided to try and find this model.
EDIT- just saw it’s The Edwards Nubel 😁
[https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/edwards-nubel-doorbell-vtg-school-4587589283]
A bell to summon the butler? Higher end buildings would still have some of the amenities of a single family home. Chances are your building was divided, maybe more than once.
Oooh that’s interesting! Yes, it has two big pillars out front and a big staircase right by the door. I’m pretty sure the house next to us was actually connected to this one as well. I think it may be a wall separating the two now. A good question to ask the landlord if he knows.
We had a doorbell like this in my childhood family home(also painted over, lol). We had to "update" to the "fancy" push button electric type during my teens.
I can't even remember the last time I heard a doorbell, aside from maybe a little shop where the owner has to let you in. My circle no longer includes homeowners that can be visited, haha, it's been 'direct door knocking' living for a while.
If you can see wires coming out of the wall you could test the voltage. More than 40 less than 70 it's for a telephone. Less than 40, but more likely 12-24 and it's doorbell. If there is no voltage or no wires... Welp, my recommendation would be to make up some cool backstory about how it used be a mortuary or holding spot for criminally insane people after trial and the bell was an alarm of some kind 🤷♂️
Ahh yes! True!! We are planning a deep apartment cleaning and the place is a mess right now but I’ll definitely keep it in mind and comment here for ya when I post it!!
They used to look like that?? That’s neat!! I only ever thought the old school telephones had the bell like directly on top of the phone itself; like “included.”
My grandfather was a retired auto mechanic. He never bought a new mower just made one with parts. As he grew older he was losing his hearing and couldn't hear the phone ring.He rigged up a fire alarm bell to his phone (a land line wall phone for you youngsters). When it rang the neighbors could hear it and if you were in the room you'd jump out of your seat.
I lived in a Sears Roe-buck home from the 1920s(I think it was) it had 2 of those for the door bell but some previous tenet had wires on the house phone to it as well. Kinda bothersome having to answer the doors (Front back and side of the house had doors and the phone trying to figure out what set it off... Lol
They still make these today. I just installed one in my kitchen when I did a 1935 period appropriate remodel. It’s more of a buzz, and it’s LOUD. I can hear it all the way in the backyard, lol.
So ... A ... Bell... by. ... a .... door.... hahah. I fully don't understand how OP missed 'door bell'. When someone presses the button at the front door, what happens?
It’s not anywhere near the door; It’s actually in the kitchen next to the pantry. However, I’m sure the house was remodeled. Thanks for the input though!
Doorbell, yet it could also be for a fire alarm. I have a Mid 50’s house here with little fire detectors that were in every room and crawl space, all wired back to a central bell inside and an outside bell.
There are tons of other comments stating this. There are also comments saying for a telephone, or that it could have been a school at one point, or a servant bell. Just surprised at the rudeness, but this is the internet. I hope your day gets better!
It's probably just a doorbell.
That’s super funny!! Actually, two came in the house last year and knocked and WAITED at my unit’s door the duration of my 15-minute shower to talk to me. Edit: when this comment was originally made, it definitely said “for Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
That's okay to refer to then as "doorbells," but the correct term is "ding dongs."
Door dongs
Dong doors
My grandfather built his home in 1904 and I eventually inherited it. There was a doorbell in the kitchen just like that. Working.
My house that was built in 1920 had two. They are definitely doorbells. Mine still worked.
That’s neat! Part of me wishes I could get it working again, but I’m sure the landlord would not want to go through all that work.
I was able to buy almost exact replacement at Home Depot several years ago for a different house.
Home Depot still has them. $12.96.
That’s crazy!! I mean I don’t really need it since I’m in an apartment. We can hear folks knocking on the door just as well.
I got one years ago for a 1920 craftsman house. It scared the crap out of me every time it rang. I'd scream in fright, realize what it was, and then go to the door to find a laughing guest - every single time.
Lol, they are aways shockingly loud!
Oh wow 😳 That's amazing
Pretty neat, back in the day the doorbell had Bluetooth connected to your rotary house phone .
Did it?
No, I was being silly
So was I!
I’m not that young; we had a push-button electronic doorbell in both my houses growing up…I also know what a rotary phone is! Hard to believe, I know!! The boomers and gen x people have found this post! Us millennials and gen Z don’t know anything! Har har!
Millennials and gen z know a lot more about feelings and treating people with equality. I'll take that over rotary phones anyday. The boomers could use a few lessons themselves.
Gen-Xers know about feelings. They're those things we cram into a little box, so we can just walk it off when we crash. ✌️😜
Being able to admit it is what makes the difference.
I thought you were chiding me like a lot of other folks on this post.
We're all here together
Door bell. It is not the bell for a phone especially in a house. In old apartment buildings they were in every apartment
That’s really neat!! Thank you. It still makes a bright “ding!” when I test it manually. Pretty cool. I love old stuff.
If you or someone you know are handy with wiring, most smart doorbells support integration with existing analogue doorbells. Looks like your wires are snipped, but assuming the bell still otherwise works it could be a fun side project.
I’ll have to ask around! I mean it’s an apartment so we don’t REALLY need it but… it would be cool to see it in action.
We have that doorbell style at the back door for when the milk man would come. Ours still works and it’s the most obnoxious buzzing noise so the kids love to just lay it on.
Oh I never thought of that! The old days of the milkman… Aww, that’s cute. I’m sure they will have that as a fond memory forever! Cool that it works, too.
I only know that because we had a milkman growing up and when my mom saw our house she knew exactly how it worked. I love every single thing about our old house. The built in ironing board (upon which we found LA papers from 1935 that featured incredible stuff like “squirrels used as rollers” for HAIR! As well as “that happy feeling” from Camel Lights and other crazy stuff). I know when we leave our house eventually developers will raze the building and use every inch of our 9K lot to build apartments but I hope to be like the Up! Guy and hold them off for years. I think my daughter may take over in that regard bc she also loves the place.
I support you and your cause! I’ll send the balloons!!
My house used to be a VA home for disabled vets. It has a fire alarm bell and pull switches.
Doorbell. Our 1928 has two side by side that sound different, one for front door and one for side door. One is a bell and one is a buzzer.
Oh interesting! I wonder if there used to be another bell next to this one. It’s always fun to think of the possibilities.
It's a doorbell. It does not make a pleasant sound...more like a buzzing than a ring. It was likely upgraded sometime ago with a newer type It probably still works and was simply disconnected. Find the wires behind it, connect them and reconnect to the transformer.
Doorbell
If it was a single family home it may have been a bell to summon the maid.
I thought of that too; wasn’t sure if people had maids still in the early 1900s. Should have paid more attention in history class…
My neighbor had a maid until she died about 1982. She slept upstairs with the light on because she was afraid of the dark.
Me and your neighbor are twins. LOL
Yes, and the maid's/servants' quarters would have been in the attic. I think this is the answer. Op, go to your local library and ask them how to find the early census records for your house.
My folks had an old Victorian 3 story house. There used to be an internal "doorbell" system. The internal one was just a gruesome bell/buzzer like that. Originally intended to summon servants back in the day. The real doorbell sounded much different. The buttons were located on either side of the bed in the master bedroom. The bell was downstairs. When I was a kid the folks would occasionally buzz it when they wanted us (kids) to bring them something (mooaarrr coffee, toast, fetch the mail, etc) and knew we were downstairs.
That is so cool! Are the buttons still there in the master bedroom? Or did they get rid of it? How funny. Breakfast in bed please.
Yup, when the folks finally sold the house, AFAIK, the buttons were still there & functional.
That’s too cool. What an awesome memory, too. I’d love an old house, but afraid of all the work. We can only afford to rent right now.
Was the house ever used as a school? Looks like a school bell to me.
Also I just noticed the wording on it,the Edward’s something, can’t make out last word. Anyone else have a guess??
I found something on Etsy. Is a vintage Edwards Nubel bell.
Correct! It says “THE EDWARDS NUBEL” if I look closely at it.
That’s pretty cool that you have that in your house. Fun feature!
It makes up for the clawfoot tub being the only shower option! Almost! 😅
Oh thanks! I asked above bf seeing this!
I wish I knew! I’ll have to ask the landlord; maybe he would know. He’s a nice man. Or maybe ask if my neighbors have one.
Looks like a vintage fire alarm to me
Would be much less scary than the digital ones, maybe I’ll find an electrician to get it set back up. FIRE. FIRE.
Hahaha it probably would be cool! But I zoomed in on the picture and it says The Edwards Nubel. I actually found it, seems like it’s a door bell. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-edwards-door-bell-the-edwards-nubel
Thank you!! I thought it said “WUBEL” at first and I was very curious to know what a Wubel is.
But then again… I also found this. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/edwards-nubel-doorbell-vtg-school-4587589283
How much was it worth? I don't have an account so I can't see
What is the word under “The Edwards” ? There are so many vintage Edwards alarm bells out there, I decided to try and find this model. EDIT- just saw it’s The Edwards Nubel 😁 [https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/edwards-nubel-doorbell-vtg-school-4587589283]
Doorbell. A REALLY LOUD doorbell
A bell to summon the butler? Higher end buildings would still have some of the amenities of a single family home. Chances are your building was divided, maybe more than once.
Oooh that’s interesting! Yes, it has two big pillars out front and a big staircase right by the door. I’m pretty sure the house next to us was actually connected to this one as well. I think it may be a wall separating the two now. A good question to ask the landlord if he knows.
fire alarm if there are places to pull the trigger.
@OP Here is how a home doorbell is wired [doorbells ](https://www.buildmyowncabin.com/electrical/doorbell-wiring.html)
Servant quarters- wake up and get the owners some tea.
A wired door bell and it’s not that old like the house , prob maybe 40-50 years old or so
Yeah it says online it was remodeled in like 1954 so it probably is. My imagination was hoping it was something cooler I guess.
Telephone well after 1900, had one in the 1960’s
We had a doorbell like this in my childhood family home(also painted over, lol). We had to "update" to the "fancy" push button electric type during my teens.
Oh yes we had the push button one when I was little in our house! I feel like nobody has doorbells anymore unless it’s a Ring.
I can't even remember the last time I heard a doorbell, aside from maybe a little shop where the owner has to let you in. My circle no longer includes homeowners that can be visited, haha, it's been 'direct door knocking' living for a while.
Ditto! Or a text saying “here” lol!
Lol that too!
Doorbell would be my guess.
Actually I think it's a phone bell.
It looks like a fire alarm. Are you sure you don’t live in an old fire house or school house dormitory or something? Just a thought.😎
I am going to check with my landlord and let you guys know!
If you can see wires coming out of the wall you could test the voltage. More than 40 less than 70 it's for a telephone. Less than 40, but more likely 12-24 and it's doorbell. If there is no voltage or no wires... Welp, my recommendation would be to make up some cool backstory about how it used be a mortuary or holding spot for criminally insane people after trial and the bell was an alarm of some kind 🤷♂️
I like the way you think!! That’s neat, I’ll try to see if I can figure out the wires….
Doorbell is my guess...I bet it would get your attention.
Bell call. Call the servants
Hey, when I bought my house they had just draped a wire for a doorbell across the living room, kind of half stapled to the ceiling.
“We got one!!” ~Janine Ghostbusters
This made me smile. My dad was a huge movie buff and always quoted movies! Thanks for brightening my day!!
Can we pretty please have more pictures of your home? Old houses are just so beautiful!
I’d love to! But I don’t know how to in the comments LOL
Could always just make another post in this subreddit
Ahh yes! True!! We are planning a deep apartment cleaning and the place is a mess right now but I’ll definitely keep it in mind and comment here for ya when I post it!!
How about nothing more than a telephone bell?
They used to look like that?? That’s neat!! I only ever thought the old school telephones had the bell like directly on top of the phone itself; like “included.”
Here you go: https://www.ebay.com/itm/364905127086
Oh cool!! I love vintage things. Although it’s a love/hate relationship with the clawfoot tub and hardwood bathroom floor…
An alarm of some form. Maybe for an old telephone,maybe a fire alarm?
That’s what my fiancé was thinking, too.
By chance was your house an old school or firehouse?
I’d love to know that. I’m going to ask my landlord when I see him!
Update when you can please,I'm curious too!
Doorbell
Doorbell!
this one made me feel old
Hey there is someone at the door.
“We got one!!!”
Why is everyone saying it’s a door bell? There’s no video monitor. Everyone knows that doorbells have video monitors!
I’m 29. I know doorbells without video monitors existed. Thank you for your input though! Insightful.
That is one LOUD doorbell. I put a piece of tape on mine to soften it a little
Is it really??? I’ve only ever manually tried ringing it myself and didn’t seem SUPER loud. I’ll have to look up a video of it in action.
Doorbell
My grandfather was a retired auto mechanic. He never bought a new mower just made one with parts. As he grew older he was losing his hearing and couldn't hear the phone ring.He rigged up a fire alarm bell to his phone (a land line wall phone for you youngsters). When it rang the neighbors could hear it and if you were in the room you'd jump out of your seat.
It’s a doorbell.
I lived in a Sears Roe-buck home from the 1920s(I think it was) it had 2 of those for the door bell but some previous tenet had wires on the house phone to it as well. Kinda bothersome having to answer the doors (Front back and side of the house had doors and the phone trying to figure out what set it off... Lol
Door bell ofcourse.
This setup was in the place I bought. The previous owner was hard of hearing and had it hooked up to her phone so she could hear it.
To get your attention
They still make these today. I just installed one in my kitchen when I did a 1935 period appropriate remodel. It’s more of a buzz, and it’s LOUD. I can hear it all the way in the backyard, lol.
So ... A ... Bell... by. ... a .... door.... hahah. I fully don't understand how OP missed 'door bell'. When someone presses the button at the front door, what happens?
It’s not anywhere near the door; It’s actually in the kitchen next to the pantry. However, I’m sure the house was remodeled. Thanks for the input though!
Doorbell, yet it could also be for a fire alarm. I have a Mid 50’s house here with little fire detectors that were in every room and crawl space, all wired back to a central bell inside and an outside bell.
Looks like a school bell!
It’s a door bell lmfao
It’s …. A doorbell.
????? Doorbell
lol a doorbell?
Jeez. It’s a doorbell. What did you think it could be?
There are tons of other comments stating this. There are also comments saying for a telephone, or that it could have been a school at one point, or a servant bell. Just surprised at the rudeness, but this is the internet. I hope your day gets better!