The First Remote Controlled Television?
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mpatoray
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That would be an early color tv with remoite control. the first remote control was the Zenith "Space Command" form 1955 which used a light wand, in 1956 Dr. Adler came up with the ultrasonic remote.
Don't forget Zenith's "Lazy Bones", followed by their Flash-Matic.
twintubdexter
Well-known member
Zap...you're toast!
The wireless Zenith Flash-Matic remote looked like Flash Gordon's ray gun (the one he used on Ming The Merciless.) People were scared to death of it.
The wireless Zenith Flash-Matic remote looked like Flash Gordon's ray gun (the one he used on Ming The Merciless.) People were scared to death of it.
spankomatic
Well-known member
Remote for 1964 Magnavox console television stereo combo..
spankomatic
Well-known member
Front view
Zenith
Did the first American wireless remote control. Ironic that we abandoned light for ultra-sound until the late 1960's.
Wired remotes were available in the 1930's for the UK and German TVs, however so I can't imagine the Americans wouldn't have had them too - even if nasty infighting delayed the introduction of commercial TV broadcasting in the US by decades, the technology was on the forefront.
Did the first American wireless remote control. Ironic that we abandoned light for ultra-sound until the late 1960's.
Wired remotes were available in the 1930's for the UK and German TVs, however so I can't imagine the Americans wouldn't have had them too - even if nasty infighting delayed the introduction of commercial TV broadcasting in the US by decades, the technology was on the forefront.
whitekingd
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I have seen!!
I HAVE seen advertisement ads for remotes back in the 1930's, in America, with wires. They were offered here.
I HAVE seen advertisement ads for remotes back in the 1930's, in America, with wires. They were offered here.
whirlaway
New member
Radio Remotes
Philco had a beautiful wireless remote in the thirties,I have one and it worked with radio waves,they had wired remotes as early as 1930.People have been lazy since the the beginning of time. Bobby
Philco had a beautiful wireless remote in the thirties,I have one and it worked with radio waves,they had wired remotes as early as 1930.People have been lazy since the the beginning of time. Bobby
Remote History
Several years ago, I wrote about the remote control's history. You might get a kick out of it. (There is an update to the story: Robert Adler, the Zenith physicist who came up with the ultrasonic Space Command, died in February 2007.)
Several years ago, I wrote about the remote control's history. You might get a kick out of it. (There is an update to the story: Robert Adler, the Zenith physicist who came up with the ultrasonic Space Command, died in February 2007.)
My Grandparents had a Sears TV when I was a kid that had a 2-button ultrasonic remote that used a 9v battery. It had a varactor tuner which had about 10 buttons, pressing the channel button cycled through them. It had an on-off-vol button which cycled through volume settings within a range set by the knob on the TV itself. In order to turn the volume down, you had to cycle up through the settings and turn it off first.
My other set of Grandparents had a Curtis Mathes TV with a wired remote that had knobs for several typical controls and a remote cable as thick, kinky, and lumpy as a 30-foot thumb. It had a lighted dial on that remote, and turning that dial also turned the one on the TV. That was cool.
Until the current type of remotes, you'd just about be better off without a remote!
My other set of Grandparents had a Curtis Mathes TV with a wired remote that had knobs for several typical controls and a remote cable as thick, kinky, and lumpy as a 30-foot thumb. It had a lighted dial on that remote, and turning that dial also turned the one on the TV. That was cool.
Until the current type of remotes, you'd just about be better off without a remote!
Is that Maggie control the one that made the wooshing sound when you pressed a button? My neighbors had one of those and it was so weird.
Ralph
Ralph
spankomatic
Well-known member
Yes,Ralph it does make the whooshing sound you are talking about. I use it now with the kids. I tell them I am giving them "Magic" when they here the "whoosh" noise. They get the biggest kick out of it.
Jim
Jim
Philco
Philco came out with a wired remote. All it had on it was a channel changing button. But it had about a 30 foot cable on it. I don't know when it came out buy my 1958 Philco tv has it with it.
Philco came out with a wired remote. All it had on it was a channel changing button. But it had about a 30 foot cable on it. I don't know when it came out buy my 1958 Philco tv has it with it.
The interesting thing is after moving to the multi-feature wireless remotes in the 60's, the corded jobs returned with the first wave of late 70's/early 80's VCRs. I have RCA's first VHS model from '77 and it features a 1 button (slide switch, actually) wired remote for...Pause.
Of course, a lot of those machines were mechanical "piano key" type so electronic control was limited.
Sears moved a lot of Beta units in the mid 80's with pretty advanced corded remotes including slow-mo effects and operation over pretty much everything under the sun. -Cory
Of course, a lot of those machines were mechanical "piano key" type so electronic control was limited.
Sears moved a lot of Beta units in the mid 80's with pretty advanced corded remotes including slow-mo effects and operation over pretty much everything under the sun. -Cory
Hey Jim, thanks for confirming. I thought that remote looked familiar. We had no such thing growing up so I dug the TV's in the 'hood that did. The "air powered" Maggie remote did deliver a certain satisfaction with the amount of travel of the buttons and the "pssshhhhh" sound payoff when pressure was released and they finally hit bottom. From a tactile perspective it was a real winning design.
The other remote I liked was on a portable Zenith at another friend's house. The channel numbers on the set were on a wheel behind a small window. The wheel would rotate to the next channel via the remote control, but you had to let go of the advance button at the right moment or the wheel (and the tuner) would turn a little too far. It also had one channel that had no number, just a small dot. I don't know if it was for a separate UHF tuner or what. Another fun TV to mess around with via remote.
Ralph
The other remote I liked was on a portable Zenith at another friend's house. The channel numbers on the set were on a wheel behind a small window. The wheel would rotate to the next channel via the remote control, but you had to let go of the advance button at the right moment or the wheel (and the tuner) would turn a little too far. It also had one channel that had no number, just a small dot. I don't know if it was for a separate UHF tuner or what. Another fun TV to mess around with via remote.
Ralph
bugsyjones
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Here's a Westinghouse commerical that features a remote selector.
"The most beautiful furinture you ever watched!"
~Tim
"The most beautiful furinture you ever watched!"
~Tim
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