Space oddity
 

Now that I have your attention, can anyone tell me why this Space Command remote has a recall button when it lacks random-access buttons? Thanks. I have seen this model before, but it didn't raise that question in my mind until very recently.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261243110786

Its to bring up the OSD for time & channel.
The TV has master up/down buttons & add/skip buttons
to preset channels. No LED display. If you use a full keyboard
remote on it you can RAT, at least all the ones I tried it on.

73 Zeno:smoke:

Early System 3 remote I suppose. I'm not aware of any Chromacolor sets with OSD. In that case, the modified Click movie poster I shared on which the same remote is featured, although very well-done, was way off in regards to what the release date should have been (marked June 1971).

Yes gen 2 system 3 (9-160) sets. OSD started in either L or M
line, to long ago to remember which. For your remote collection
watch for the one with timer function about this vintage.
Could set the TV to go on & off like a clock TV. Nice in bedroom,
also a security measure if you are in an unarmed neighborhood.
The noise & flashing lights will spook most B&E artists.

73 Zeno:smoke:

My 19" 81 System 3 has the auto on/off feature and space-phone. LOVE the remote that's with it! (mine has a primitive OSD)

Oh good, I was wondering if the table-top units were available with Space Phone. Can't beat the OSD on the early OSD Maggies in my opinion. You know, the large, squared-off, angled channel numbers in white that shrink and eventually disappear. Super cool. I want one of those sets as well.

Oh you mean like this one? Just bought one a couple of days ago. The buttons are a bit different at the top though. The seller sent me a pic of the top when I asked if it was infrared or ultrasonic. He had used the same pics to sell two remotes. I ordered up another one in its original package, later model with Space Phone and VCR controls, but no timer control.

Probably the same as I bought new. Twas a SM1971P
Nice pecan genuine immatation wood cabinet. If its plastic would
have prob been a SM1961
Sold it a few yrs later & went with the "cube" style 20" stereo.
The old SM was still running fine a few years ago til it was
junked for no good reason. Used to get a new set every change off
chassis, got them at cost,no tax & Zenith would allow about
5% -10% off for personal use. Could resell them in a few yrs & get most of
what I paid back:banana:

73 Zeno:smoke:

Mine is the one with the pecan :)
I used to be able to get new sets every year or 2 as well, and resell with a discount.
My first new Zenith was the 19" Chromacolor chassis, but the EFL inline tube. I think it was a 1979, and the LAST year of the Chromacolor 2 chassis.

Anyone think that Space Phone is kind of a flawed technology for anyone who isn't a Loud Howard? I didn't know that Space Phone TVs had a RAT keypad and full phone controls on the set until I saw the CL ad. Maybe some don't, I don't know. Makes the remote kind of redundant for that purpose as one would have to sit close to the set to use the mic, unless that person happens to be a Loud Howard. I don't regret getting my remotes though, I still think they're cool. Ideally I would use a wireless headset with the transceiver hidden in the TV that would automatically toggle I/O operations to the headset when Space Phone is activated. Then I would have, in my opinion, the ultimate land-line telephone.

Well.. they actually weren't bad. They were actually pretty sensitive, but the owners thought they had to scream at em. Zenith always did the odd "gimmicks". SpacePhone was a good idea, but after it got released, it seemed like cordless phones hit the market like 14 seconds later, so I assume in the development phase, it was a good idea, but they waited too long. Kind of like RCA and the stupid CED players.
Also.. Zenith had "Zoom" which to this day I haven't been able to figure out what the point was. (and I sold em)

Spacephone did work OK but never caught on to
the extent of hearing "would someone answer the damn TV".
Most never hooked it up or used it for a short time.
Some used it a lot to have family talks so everyone could
hear & take turns.
Phone was a new & big market after the beak up of Ma Bell.
Before that EVERYTHING had to be leased & they did look
for cheaters. So when you could buy your own stuff a
huge market opened up. The trade mags were full of phone
stuff. I always found it boring..........

73 Zeno:smoke:

That's one reason I like their stuff.