I'd leave them in place. It adds to a certain retro charm of upper-class America. If you pull them out you have a lot of sheetrock and painting to do. If you decide to pull them out I would so much love to have the set.
Everyone all over here telling you to "upgrade" the house to LOOK. LIKE. EVERY. HOUSE. EVER. Enjoy the unique system, and treat it like wall art. Frame it. Light it up. Add your gallery wall to include it. But seriously, why must people rip up everything "old." If you look at trending fashions, what goes around - comes around. Stuff that "experts" and designers saying are out of fashion trends back. Or homeowners discover "old" stuff was useful. All of the rooms? Sure. Remove most of the system. But keep one or two, just for the vintage sake.
Totally agree with you! I can't my head around the desire to rip out unique features to make a house just like every other house. They should spend a few dollars and restore the system. What a great feature it would be.
When our parents built our new house in 1970, they had a Rittenhouse intercom installed. Lightning hit a pole nearby in 1985 and it burned out along with a couple other electronic items in the house, so insurance paid to have a new one installed. It's a Nutone brand. Dad passed away, but Mom still lives there and we'll be celibrating our 53rd Christmas there in a few days. I'd keep your intercom. The speakers on all the units can be repaired & as another commentor stated, so can the main control unit. I was 3 1/2 when we moved in to that house and some of my fondest memories are of my Dad turning on that system in the mornings to the local AM talk radio while he was getting ready to go to work, and also on weekend mornings, he'd wake us all up with an announcement "Everybody up.... your Mom's got breakfast on the table!"
Hey I used to work for the company that made that intercom system. The master unit is a "7000" series, one of the last made before the company went out of business. The room units look like they are from the earlier "RM5" system. Fixing it is probably not worthwhile. I recommend uninstalling it and fixing the holes in the walls.
The random things YT's algo shows on my main page haha. Anyways, I couldn't find much on these (besides many places demanding money for info)... But it seems these are powered like old door bells were. A transformer somewhere hidden away. Usually in attics, basement ceiling, or near the electrical panel for the house. Supplies low voltage to the master unit. I'd be checking circuit breakers first. However, with how old these are, there are also probably parts that have gone bad (capacitors most often culprits). I doubt the wiring in the walls is bad (due to natural reasons, not people cutting them). If you are really looking for these to work and want to keep them, seeking a geek who is local would be a good bet. Someone who is good with wiring and electronics. I did find a new in box set of these on ebay, but postage cost was high.
Buddies house growing up had a similar intercom in their house. Theirs, however, worked. It was neat at first to talk to people in other rooms, but the novelty wore off. They ended up pulling out all the speakers in each room and the main unit in the kitchen and patching the drywall.
I used to have the plug in intercoms for our family room instead of yelling for the kids. They loved talking to me on it when I was cooking meals. If you can get it working, I am sure the kids will have fun with it.
It looks like an intercom in house system. The main one that has the radio may only connect with the front door and then you can use the main one to then talk with other rooms. I’ve seen family UA-camrs have it in their newly built homes but they have larger homes with multiple floors and it’s more spread out for example if you go to YAWI vlogs or tannerites channel who are the same family they have had large multi floor homes and they have the intercom system in their house.
Marc Beebe Looks like your man for questions, I wouldn't be afraid of pulling the AM/FM radio chassis out of the wall and see if it is got power. Perhaps a transformer for the doorbell/intercom has been disconnected or has failed. Though frankly 50-year-old radio would at least need to have capacitors replaced. Otherwise In my building with intercoms in each apartment to the front door we replace it with wireless and as we renovate the apartments boxes and plaster over the old hole.
My son just bought a new house and it has one of those. Everything works on it. The kids have so much fun playing with it. There isn't a speaker outside though.
Any likely repair will be at the master station. First thing to check is it getting electrical current. If so, with some digging, you could find an old timer that can fix it. You'd have to disconnect the master. Take a pic first so you know what wires to reconnect, pack it and ship to your repair guy. Only you can initiate a call to the door speaker. They can't just come up and listen in. By the looks of this model, it appears you can only communicate to the door station from the master station and not from the sub stations to the door.
Some really old houses can have those doorbell buttons in bed rooms my aunt had one. the way that was set up is is if you got sick you could buzz your neighbor these buzzers were used in duplex homes. that is if you really knew your neighbor back then.
I have a Nutone system from gosh knows when. I only have 1 of the unites, like the master control or something. Don't know much about it. Hate to junk it, because somebody out there is probably desperately looking for it. I'll throw it up on eBay.
MS Intercom would be nice replacement, nice to have the working radio, first thing check and see if there power going to unit.. Number of videos about the systems.. If you pay for flight be more then happen to come and get it working ..
Yes, I have one in my house and they can play the radio (or tape, phono, or if you modify it, Bluetooth or Alexa) into all the rooms where there is a speaker
The plastic is probably a bit yellowed. If you want to try and bring them back to their original color, check out a process called Retrobright. It's completely DIY and pretty easy to do. The 8bit Guy has even made it a bit of his specialty. Just check his channel.
Hey Amanda y'all have a rittenhouse speakers on y'all house and and you are checking on the button and see if it works today and you are trying to fix it and see if it works today and you are going to work on it today you are doing a fantastic job on the rittenhouse speakers outside and inside today
Lol we had them growing up they were the best mom woukd nit yell at us hehe ! Just cover it up they go on fire if nit working well intercom was the thing in the 8o we have ring now u can have at your door ! And we use cell now say good bye lol
Upscale homes had these in the 50's and 60's. At the time it was state of the art. The main unit has all the "guts". It can be repaired, by someone who fixes old radios, but these people are hard to find. The sound on these was never particularly great. They were really designed for waking the kids in the morning and monitoring them from the kitchen so that they did not get into mischief during the day. Nutone made a model with tape and record player options. If you want to remove it, you are going to need to just take them down, push the wires back into the walls and plaster over the holes.
I had a nutone one like this with radio and everything. I put it up for bid on ebay and sold it for $220. I had no Idea anyone wanted it and was going to throw it away!
Hi! I am in the same boat, mine turns on but no sound. I want to restore it but can't find anyone who works on them. Any help on that? Did you restore them?
If you could provide the Model Number if you have it or can find it, that would be helpful. If you have any manual for it the Model Number would likely be in it. If not, it will likely be inside the main (living room) unit. This unit either folds down, folds out, pulls out, or pulls off the wall. The first step, if it doesn't work at all, after making sure the breaker which contains the intercom (if it is listed in the breaker box) is on, is to find the 16 VAC transformer and see if it is damaged. They put them in a lot of different places, inside the main breaker box of the house is one. Behind or close to the main unit is another. In the basement is another. And possibly in a crawl space in the ceiling, which they should NOT do, but sometimes they do anyway. It is likely a 16 VAC transformer which powers the unit. If none of the units work, this is the first place to look. Finding it can sometimes be difficult. Please keep in mind that one side of the transformer is connected to the houses 120 VAC, and IS very dangerous if you are not careful. This side (primary) will have three wires, black (this is the power wire), white (the return wire) and either green or bare (the safety wire). There will be 120 VAC between the black wire and the white wire. The green/bare wire should have no voltage.The secondary, 16 VAC which powers the unit and all the remote speakers, has 2 wires which when working will have 16 VAC across them. Another hint is that if it has a doorbell/door chime, it will most likely be powered by a second transformer, not related to the main one at all. Knowing this could help with troubleshooting this unit, if say one works (or at least powers up) and the other doesn't, for example. That is if you decide to fix it. I think you may like it if it were working. Good luck.
If you didn't have a cell phone you would find out fast how useful these are. Select what room you want to communicate with by number, hold the button on to talk and say Junior dinners ready and you won't have go all the way upstairs every half hour to bitch at your kids. There's even a selection to talk to all rooms at once. The reason you have to hold it on to talk is so someone doesn't click the switch on then listen in to private conversations (and other private matters).
Maybe your grandpa, Steph's dad knows a little about electric. ( I don't know if you call him grandpa or not) Or maybe your dad, if you want it working again. I think it's cool. but I grew up in the 50's/60's. I remember seeing those in homes. Good luck on whatever you decide.
An electronics technician (like me!) Low voltage like someone else on the comments mentioned. It is probably in the doorbell circuit. I'd fix it for free!
Why not update the old unit,Have a technician Blue tooth the head unit and you can listen to your phone music in any room while you do your thing. Hey those speakers cant sound no worse than what comes out of the phones little speakers.
I'm not certain but if the power to the intercom wall plates is accessible - convert them all over to Amazon Echos. This would 'restore' the intercom ability AND add room music (which I think was other of the services these offered)
I HAD IT IN THE 70'S TO ME THEY ARE SO OUTDATED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.A PICTURE, ART OR DECOR TO COVER IS A THOUGHT. TAKE IT OUT IF YOU COULD FIND A BUYER. LOOK IT UO TO SEE IF IT IS WORTH ANYTHING.
Use them? You know, as an intercom? The title/question is whacked, its like saying "My parents have gotten old, what do I do with them? Dispose of? Keep? Refurbish with extreme facelift makeovers so it's not so embarrassing to have them around?" Im sure that experiencing this TERRIBLE life situation, to have to be FORCED to look at something old, and an old INTERCOM at that, can only mean there is one solution; Burn down the house. There. Provided you with the only acceptable solution. God forbid you ever have to endure something old in your life again.
I'd leave them in place. It adds to a certain retro charm of upper-class America.
If you pull them out you have a lot of sheetrock and painting to do.
If you decide to pull them out I would so much love to have the set.
Everyone all over here telling you to "upgrade" the house to LOOK. LIKE. EVERY. HOUSE. EVER.
Enjoy the unique system, and treat it like wall art. Frame it. Light it up. Add your gallery wall to include it. But seriously, why must people rip up everything "old."
If you look at trending fashions, what goes around - comes around. Stuff that "experts" and designers saying are out of fashion trends back. Or homeowners discover "old" stuff was useful.
All of the rooms? Sure. Remove most of the system.
But keep one or two, just for the vintage sake.
Totally agree with you! I can't my head around the desire to rip out unique features to make a house just like every other house. They should spend a few dollars and restore the system. What a great feature it would be.
Hi Amanda if you haven't yet check the circuit breaker box to see if that will help make the intercom system work.
Just an idea 💡 or suggestion
When our parents built our new house in 1970, they had a Rittenhouse intercom installed. Lightning hit a pole nearby in 1985 and it burned out along with a couple other electronic items in the house, so insurance paid to have a new one installed. It's a Nutone brand. Dad passed away, but Mom still lives there and we'll be celibrating our 53rd Christmas there in a few days. I'd keep your intercom. The speakers on all the units can be repaired & as another commentor stated, so can the main control unit. I was 3 1/2 when we moved in to that house and some of my fondest memories are of my Dad turning on that system in the mornings to the local AM talk radio while he was getting ready to go to work, and also on weekend mornings, he'd wake us all up with an announcement "Everybody up.... your Mom's got breakfast on the table!"
I'd yank them out and then integrate some home automation (smart home)
Pretty neat to me. I'd get it looked at an see if itd be worth fixing.
Hey I used to work for the company that made that intercom system. The master unit is a "7000" series, one of the last made before the company went out of business. The room units look like they are from the earlier "RM5" system. Fixing it is probably not worthwhile. I recommend uninstalling it and fixing the holes in the walls.
They are very basic and really easy to fix. I restore vintage radios and TVs for a hobby. I would gladly fix it up for you.
What a shame to rip out such a quirky and unique feature. If it were in my house, I would have it restored.
The random things YT's algo shows on my main page haha. Anyways, I couldn't find much on these (besides many places demanding money for info)... But it seems these are powered like old door bells were. A transformer somewhere hidden away. Usually in attics, basement ceiling, or near the electrical panel for the house. Supplies low voltage to the master unit.
I'd be checking circuit breakers first. However, with how old these are, there are also probably parts that have gone bad (capacitors most often culprits). I doubt the wiring in the walls is bad (due to natural reasons, not people cutting them).
If you are really looking for these to work and want to keep them, seeking a geek who is local would be a good bet. Someone who is good with wiring and electronics.
I did find a new in box set of these on ebay, but postage cost was high.
Growing up as a kid in the 70s, we had a very similar Nutone system in our house.
Buddies house growing up had a similar intercom in their house. Theirs, however, worked. It was neat at first to talk to people in other rooms, but the novelty wore off. They ended up pulling out all the speakers in each room and the main unit in the kitchen and patching the drywall.
I used to have the plug in intercoms for our family room instead of yelling for the kids. They loved talking to me on it when I was cooking meals. If you can get it working, I am sure the kids will have fun with it.
What a shame to rip out such a quirky and unique feature. If it were in my house, I would have it restored.
I would totally fix it. That's awesome!!!
It looks like an intercom in house system. The main one that has the radio may only connect with the front door and then you can use the main one to then talk with other rooms. I’ve seen family UA-camrs have it in their newly built homes but they have larger homes with multiple floors and it’s more spread out for example if you go to YAWI vlogs or tannerites channel who are the same family they have had large multi floor homes and they have the intercom system in their house.
Marc Beebe Looks like your man for questions, I wouldn't be afraid of pulling the AM/FM radio chassis out of the wall and see if it is got power. Perhaps a transformer for the doorbell/intercom has been disconnected or has failed. Though frankly 50-year-old radio would at least need to have capacitors replaced. Otherwise In my building with intercoms in each apartment to the front door we replace it with wireless and as we renovate the apartments boxes and plaster over the old hole.
My son just bought a new house and it has one of those. Everything works on it. The kids have so much fun playing with it. There isn't a speaker outside though.
0:31 a RITTENHOUSE Musicom.
Any likely repair will be at the master station. First thing to check is it getting electrical current. If so, with some digging, you could find an old timer that can fix it. You'd have to disconnect the master. Take a pic first so you know what wires to reconnect, pack it and ship to your repair guy. Only you can initiate a call to the door speaker. They can't just come up and listen in. By the looks of this model, it appears you can only communicate to the door station from the master station and not from the sub stations to the door.
Some really old houses
can have those
doorbell buttons in bed
rooms my aunt
had one. the way that
was set up is
is if you got sick you
could buzz your
neighbor these buzzers
were used
in duplex homes.
that is if you really
knew your neighbor
back then.
Keep it! It’s super cool
I have a Nutone system from gosh knows when. I only have 1 of the unites, like the master control or something. Don't know much about it. Hate to junk it, because somebody out there is probably desperately looking for it. I'll throw it up on eBay.
MS Intercom would be nice replacement, nice to have the working radio, first thing check and see if there power going to unit.. Number of videos about the systems.. If you pay for flight be more then happen to come and get it working ..
I would call Kyle !!!! LOL
Keith said it looks like a 60s intercom. Replace it. You don't want any wires going on fire!!! Looks like it's Back in our day !!! Joan and Keith. ✌
You check to see if the wires are fine first, not replace them even if they don't need it.
it may be that the main unit just needs a new power supply
That's neat I remember them you can use the wire's and some touch screen's having the wire's thew the wall's is handy for a security system
It would be wired you can call your kids time for dinner. I would remove them.
I wonder (if it works) if you can play the radio into each room. Seems outdated & unnecessary but unique & interesting at the same time.
Yes, I have one in my house and they can play the radio (or tape, phono, or if you modify it, Bluetooth or Alexa) into all the rooms where there is a speaker
The plastic is probably a bit yellowed. If you want to try and bring them back to their original color, check out a process called Retrobright. It's completely DIY and pretty easy to do. The 8bit Guy has even made it a bit of his specialty. Just check his channel.
I would certainly repair the units if they need and keep them, as they are fun.
Have you tried making sure it has power connected to it for testing?
Hey Amanda y'all have a rittenhouse speakers on y'all house and and you are checking on the button and see if it works today and you are trying to fix it and see if it works today and you are going to work on it today you are doing a fantastic job on the rittenhouse speakers outside and inside today
Lol we had them growing up they were the best mom woukd nit yell at us hehe ! Just cover it up they go on fire if nit working well intercom was the thing in the 8o we have ring now u can have at your door ! And we use cell now say good bye lol
Upscale homes had these in the 50's and 60's. At the time it was state of the art. The main unit has all the "guts". It can be repaired, by someone who fixes old radios, but these people are hard to find. The sound on these was never particularly great. They were really designed for waking the kids in the morning and monitoring them from the kitchen so that they did not get into mischief during the day. Nutone made a model with tape and record player options. If you want to remove it, you are going to need to just take them down, push the wires back into the walls and plaster over the holes.
I had a nutone one like this with radio and everything. I put it up for bid on ebay and sold it for $220. I had no Idea anyone wanted it and was going to throw it away!
Keep it. Its antique
You could retro brite it. Make it look better. Retro briting is for vintage plastic. Lots of electronics get this done
If you still have it installed, have you tried to tune the radio or make announcements on the intercom
Keep it and fix it for vintage effect. All of the cool kids with large families had them...lol
Put a frame around each one
I’d get rid of it lol
Hi! I am in the same boat, mine turns on but no sound. I want to restore it but can't find anyone who works on them. Any help on that? Did you restore them?
Wow, I was just suggested this video. Strange with the Rittenhouse Musician mention in there LOL!
If you could provide the Model Number if you have it or can find it, that would be helpful. If you have any manual for it the Model Number would likely be in it. If not, it will likely be inside the main (living room) unit. This unit either folds down, folds out, pulls out, or pulls off the wall.
The first step, if it doesn't work at all, after making sure the breaker which contains the intercom (if it is listed in the breaker box) is on, is to find the 16 VAC transformer and see if it is damaged. They put them in a lot of different places, inside the main breaker box of the house is one. Behind or close to the main unit is another. In the basement is another. And possibly in a crawl space in the ceiling, which they should NOT do, but sometimes they do anyway. It is likely a 16 VAC transformer which powers the unit. If none of the units work, this is the first place to look. Finding it can sometimes be difficult.
Please keep in mind that one side of the transformer is connected to the houses 120 VAC, and IS very dangerous if you are not careful. This side (primary) will have three wires, black (this is the power wire), white (the return wire) and either green or bare (the safety wire). There will be 120 VAC between the black wire and the white wire. The green/bare wire should have no voltage.The secondary, 16 VAC which powers the unit and all the remote speakers, has 2 wires which when working will have 16 VAC across them.
Another hint is that if it has a doorbell/door chime, it will most likely be powered by a second transformer, not related to the main one at all. Knowing this could help with troubleshooting this unit, if say one works (or at least powers up) and the other doesn't, for example. That is if you decide to fix it.
I think you may like it if it were working.
Good luck.
You know your stuff.
I would take it out! 🙃
Very lucky
Remove the units, and replace with a music system. The wwiring is already there. or, just patch the holes in the walls and forget about it!
Replace it with a updated system
If you didn't have a cell phone you would find out fast how useful these are. Select what room you want to communicate with by number, hold the button on to talk and say Junior dinners ready and you won't have go all the way upstairs every half hour to bitch at your kids. There's even a selection to talk to all rooms at once. The reason you have to hold it on to talk is so someone doesn't click the switch on then listen in to private conversations (and other private matters).
Keep it for looks
Maybe your grandpa, Steph's dad knows a little about electric. ( I don't know if you call him grandpa or not) Or maybe your dad, if you want it working again. I think it's cool. but I grew up in the 50's/60's. I remember seeing those in homes. Good luck on whatever you decide.
You will probably need a electrician to fix it. It’s cool 😎😀
An electronics technician (like me!) Low voltage like someone else on the comments mentioned. It is probably in the doorbell circuit. I'd fix it for free!
Ill say intercom system.
Be handy if it worked.
Why not update the old unit,Have a technician Blue tooth the head unit and you can listen to your phone music in any room while you do your thing. Hey those speakers cant sound no worse than what comes out of the phones little speakers.
get it repaired
Rittenhouse! Am i right? Thoughts in the comments.
replace it
Fix it
Fix it, 😃🤣
Only comment with your name. Because reasons.
I'm not certain but if the power to the intercom wall plates is accessible - convert them all over to Amazon Echos. This would 'restore' the intercom ability AND add room music (which I think was other of the services these offered)
I HAD IT IN THE 70'S TO ME THEY ARE SO OUTDATED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.A PICTURE, ART OR DECOR TO COVER IS A THOUGHT. TAKE IT OUT IF YOU COULD FIND A BUYER. LOOK IT UO TO SEE IF IT IS WORTH ANYTHING.
Diane, adjust your meds....
Amanda, get rid of it and install
some camera.
This is weird.
You're weird. Just use it as it.
Your good bro. That system will shot pedophiles and domestic abusers .
Use them? You know, as an intercom? The title/question is whacked, its like saying "My parents have gotten old, what do I do with them? Dispose of? Keep? Refurbish with extreme facelift makeovers so it's not so embarrassing to have them around?"
Im sure that experiencing this TERRIBLE life situation, to have to be FORCED to look at something old, and an old INTERCOM at that, can only mean there is one solution; Burn down the house. There. Provided you with the only acceptable solution. God forbid you ever have to endure something old in your life again.
Worth selling, for sure! 🦘🦘