Postwar American Television
Early Remote Controls
Popular Science Do It Yourself Remote Control
This is a Telezoom remote control for a 1948 Garod 10TZ20 TV set. It was attached to the set by a 20 foot cable. When the button was pushed, the picture was made larger, cropping the sides, top and bottom. From a 1949 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine: "There are several innovations which add to the convenience and satisfaction of the viewer. One of the most interesting of these, introduced recently by the Garod Radio Corporation, is known as Tele-Zoom, a name that suggests the Zoomar lens which travels from a distant to a closeup view in a second or so. Tele-Zoom effectively does the same and the "zoom" is controlled by the viewer."
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This remote control is for an early 50s DuMont set. It was attached by the long cable shown in the picture. It controlled the channel number (using the telephone-like dial), the volume, brighness, and turned the set on and off.
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Here is another version of an early DuMont remote control
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This is a "Magic Brain", for use with 1953-54 RCA black and white sets. It used a motor to change the channel and adjust the fine tuning. It also controlled the volume and contrast. (Donated by Charles Harper)
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"it" wired remote control uses D cell batteries in the remote unit (left) and has a small motor in the unit that goes on the front of the tuner. There is no provision for on-off or volume. This remote was probably made in the 50s. Thanks to John Yurkon for donating this to the museum.
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Zenith Flashmatic Courtesy of Jim Jackson Zenith Flashmatic Owners Manual Courtesy of Eric Hill
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