R.I.P. Eugene Polley, inventor of the TV remote control

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"Remote control devices are so commonplace these days that we tend to forget how amazing they must have seemed when they were first introduced."

I certainly remember those ugly pre-remote days.

Actually, to a certain extent, I still live them. I do have remote with my DVD player (which I also use to switch the Idiot Box on). But the volume control still requires me to get up and walk across the room. (I run the audio through my stereo music system, which has no remote for the amplifier section.) Still, just controlling the DVD player is a huge advantage.

One part of me does miss the old days. There is something satisfying and intuitive about the old rotary dial TV tuners vs the modern digital style.
 
Farewell Eugene!!!! (Click!)

Well, I must have paid tribute to him every time I've watched TV: These days you mostly get a few buttons on your set for power, volume & maybe changing channels!

With On-Screen programming & stuff like your Contrast, Horizontal & Vertical Hold,you gotta have that remote for!!!!

-- Dave
 
He brought convenience to many...

The Gentlemens invention brought a lot of comfort to the disabled/elderly at home.  I do remember how finicky UHF was, one miscalculated swipe with a dust rag would mess it up.   How did remote control do with UHF?  We had color, but no remote control. Thank you  Mr. Polley.   alr 
 
The first remote I witnessed the operation of was in (if I remember correctly) 1966. Our neighbor across the street was asst. manager for one of the White Auto and Home stores. Their TV was a color Catalina. I thought the remote was sooo cool. It was a "luxury" to be able to change the channel and increase/reduce the volume all the way across the room with just the touch of a button.

The first wireless remote I had was with my Hitachi VCR. It took me a while to get used to it, but it sure was a convenience. I also didn't have to worry about tripping over the wire like the one on my GE VCR (the Hitachi was it's replacement).
 
Zenith's 'Space Command' & a Remote that was def

I had a Zenith TV remote once! (And the TV it went to must have long been discarded) All black, bakelite plastic (surprisingly not woodgrain) and there was one silver plastic button on the top, that I think was for solely changing channels; and it was definitely not Zenith's 'Space Command'...

There was a wire screen on the front of it, too and of course I'll never forget how loud that click sounded! One of my friends & I used to take turns pointing it at each other, I guess when we were talking about stuff & "had gotten sick of a discussion on somethin' & wanted to change the subject"!!!!

So not surprisingly it got lost or maybe I think from all that clicking just broke!!!!

-- Dave
 
toy vehicles too

back in 1979,i bought a remote control toy van(in'70s custom style)and it had a
"clicker"remote;had to be within about 4'for the remote to work...
The van was called"max machine"
 
You are so wrong Andrew!

Thank you. My work is done...
smiley-laughing.gif


 

RCD
 

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