Bell Indicator Board
Higgins & Griffiths Ltd
Category
Historic Services / Communications
Date
1908
Materials
Measurements
100 x 610 mm; 560 mm (Length)
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Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1247988
Summary
Servant call indicator board, butler's bell or servant signal board.
Full description
Presented in a rectangular wooden box covered with glass, are 5 rows of circles. Above each of these a room is named. There are: 18 bedrooms(including 1 Maid's), 11 bathrooms, a parlour and 2 dressing rooms. The maker's name is printed in the bottom right hand corner. When a guest pressed a call button in their room, an electromagnetic coil in side the box would cause a pendulum to swing behind one of the circular glass windows, signalling to the staff where they were needed. The date of installation must be after the death of The Hon Ronald Greville as his rooms are renamed as Chippendale bedroom and bathroom.
Makers and roles
Higgins & Griffiths Ltd, company