Perhaps you are a person who likes to be in touch with the outside world even when in the depths of the home—the basement. If so, it is wise to conceal your telephone from dust that is stirred up down there, or from the sawdust of the workshop. Contrary to general opinion, the ring is not harder to hear when the phone is concealed, but, rather, it is louder and deeper, because the wall acts as a sound boom.

The phone can be installed in either a paneled wall, or in a home-made box to be attached to a wall. A wall phone, which the author used here, is best for this project, although a desk phone would work as well by altering the dimensions of the container box.

Make a container box of 3/4" plywood to the following dimensions: if you use a wall phone, inside of box should be 6" wide, 14" high and 6" deep; if you use a desk phone, inside of box should be 11" wide, 9" high and 10" deep. Attach top, bottom and sidepieces with glue and nails.

Before attaching box to wall, consult your local telephone representative about wiring details. Attach 1" by 3/4" solid wood cleats to sides of box along back edges, through which box is attached to wall. If box is to be surrounded by paneling, make sure front of box is flush with paneling frame.

When fitting 1/4" plywood panel to wall on which phone box is attached, carefully cut out the phone box opening to exact size of the inside of box, so the cutout may be used as the outside cover, matching the grain of the wall panel. Make a door of 3/4" plywood, and glue it to the cut-out piece of 1/4" paneling.

Attach door in place with piano hinge. Holding door in slanting position, mount a lid-support bracket in place. Attach a paper clip to inside of lid to hold your note pad. Attach a touch latch at top of door so door may be opened at the touch of a finger.

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