A Strange Find in the Ceiling
September 24, 2025
Source: Reddit
While going through the attic, I noticed something strange behind the drywall. It kind of looked like a fan motor and an old electrical panel mixed together. There was a red bulb that said “MEDIUM”, a belt-driven thing, and a pile of old wiring. It was dusty, of course, and was obviously silent from not seeing the light of day for years! It turned out to be a Montgomery Ward garage opener.
After matching it to several old videos on YouTube to confirm, you guessed it— a Montgomery Ward garage opener, screw-drive, probably from around the late 1970’s or early 80’s.
The Suburban Garage Staple
Montgomery Ward definitely built tough, rugged, heavy-duty garage door openers to last. The screw-drive mechanism raised and lowered the garage door with a long threaded rod. Unlike chain drives, their movement was quieter and smoother—but produced an unusual mechanical buzz and whine, a characteristic of the Montgomery Ward garage opener.
There were no sensors for safety, no remote controls with rolling codes, no smart home. These were physical, mechanized, and durable.
The Details of Another Time
I’m pretty sure that the red “MEDIUM” bulb was like the courtesy lights that turned on when the garage door was opened. The motor enclosure was all metal. No weird plastic enclosures, or circuit boards, just real physical switches, heavy gage wiring, and steel bracketry. Every component reflected the quality of a Montgomery Ward garage opener.
The terminal block had exposed screws and wires that were laid out nicely. Well thought out, serviceable, no secrets hidden under the molded plastic.
Why Did Someone Stow It Away?
Chances are, the opener was no longer of use, and rather than remove it, someone just built a wall around it. Or, they had to change the layout of the garage where the opener ended up stowed behind drywall.
Regardless, the motor sat sealed away like an artifact from its time—until now. Discovering a Montgomery Ward garage opener in such a state was like finding a piece of history.
A Sentiment for the Classic Garage Days
The sound of a garage door opener was more than just movement. It signified someone was coming or going somewhere. The thrum of a motor, and the crunching of a release mechanism were setting patterns for everyone. The Montgomery Ward screw drive was part of that pattern—the idiosyncratic, enduring, and loud.
The opener that I found was not functional anymore. However, the Montgomery Ward garage opener still remains safe, behind a wall, gently guarding our collective memory to the old days.