Anyone use an old school intercom between house and garage?

I have phone lines and cable run out to my garage by the previous owner. I don’t even have a home phone hooked up anymore, but the wiring is still everywhere. I’m Thinking it would be nice for someone in the house to be able to call me to dinner without having to put shoes on and walk across The yard to the garage to get me.

Do these still exist? Inexpensively? :)

Bonus points if it’s wood grain and looks straight out of 1973.

Charles.

It’s a cool idea. We just call on cellphone using a free app that allows for VOIP, e.g. WeChat, Zalo, Viber, or Skype

When I was a kid, my dad just put a doorbell in the garage with a button to ring it in the house and would pick up the phone when someone rang it.

Google will find plenty of products, but the "inexpensively" requirement might be a problem.

We use a Vtech cordless handset system with push-to-talk capability. I can call specific handsets (we have six), or send out a "all handsets" announcement when I'm not sure where my wife is working. The base unit plugs into the landline, but also connects via Bluetooth to both of our cell phones, so they can stay on their chargers near the base while calls can be made and received on any of the handsets. Phone calls can be placed on hold while using the intercom features. Range from base to handset is at least 150 feet. It's a lot more flexible than a wired intercom would be.

Hrm, the doorbell idea would work. And I could tie it into my actual doorbell so I can hear when someone arrives when i'm out back in the garage.

Still, my place is mid century modern, so a vintage style intercom (wall mounted, no handset) would be my first choice. Not looking for wireless, the distance is too far from the house to the garage.

Charles.

Got a couple of old telephones laying around?

You could put the guts in a wooden box and then "lift the handset" with a button wired into a normally closed relay connected to the "hang up" switch on the phone.

Pressing the button would be like lifting the handset. I've never tried, but I assume that so long as there's voltage on the phone line, it should work fine.

2 cans, long string.

Truly old school.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Nu...744346?hash=item48e59a5dda:g:aBoAAOSwz8teZnsk
$60.00

Years ago a buddy's dad had two military field phones with the cranks, one in garage and the other on the back screened porch. Looking back I would love to have them just to play with.

Why do you want anyone bothering you while in the garage?

Done:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Radio-Shac...351503?hash=item3b477b938f:g:RukAAOSwnvpexM5D


Have fun!

Put an Alexa in the garage and another in the house. In the garage you can use it to play music, set timers, etc.

In the house people can use it to "drop in" to the garage and let you know that dinners ready. Bonus is that you can do everything handsfree, especially handy when you've got oil or paint on your hands.

If the house <-> garage is too far for wifi use one of the phone lines as an ethernet cable to bring connect another wifi hotspot in the garage.

I don't know about wood grain and 1973, but I used to install Aiphone intercom units. Not real expensive, but good. Perhaps add some wood grain contact paper or hide it in a box of wheaties

"Sweetie can I get you anything?"
"Yes, a beer please."

"Sweetie, dinner is ready"
"Awww yaaaasssss"

Charles.

I'm in Application Security. I won't own an Alexa device. Also as I said the wifi doesn't extend to the garage.

Charles.

Ooooh, vintage radio shack, I never thought of that.

I really like the looks of these two:

43-216A (wired)



43-212 (FM wireless, basically plug-in walkie-talkies)



Looks like I can still buy either set new in the box or used and tested for not a whole lot of money.

Charles.

We used the wireless Radio shack units years ago. They worked fine for us.

I don’t know if it would be MCMy enough for you but how about a vintage Nutone Intercom system?

Text, more better. Do you want to touch the intercom with dirty hands?

So I just tossed my vtech phone set. It had a nice intercom. Had a page function. 2.4ghz would reach several hundred yards.

Nah I can always mash the intercom with an elbow. Texts are terrible. I don’t hear the tone half the time and I’d have to reach into my pocket with filthy hands. Once my garage is complete I’ll use one of these setups. I’ll check nutone too.

Charles.