Quote:
Originally Posted by Hyperion
Reading this thread reminded me of a friend having a TV set (1970's) with a one button remote - really unusual in that it had a steel rod inside it, with a small hammer striking it activated by the button. It did not require any batteries, and I think the principle of operation was production of sound from the steel rod by using it as a tuning fork. When used you could just hear a click when the button was pressed - not really a tuning fork sound in the conventional sense. I can't remember if the remote would just change the channel, or turn the set on/off, or both, not sure.
Did I dream it all up? or can anybody confirm the existance of such a remote, I am sorry my dream didn't stretch to knowing the manufacturer 
John |
Those were the standard for all TV remotes from the 50s to the 80s. Zenith used the tone bar system from '55 to '78, and most all mfrs used it all through the 60s. The pre-1980 remotes were all based on the same principle (ultrasonic tones), but when they started having more than 3 or 4 buttons, they went to electronic tone generators with a battery. Some later replacement remote hand units for the old tone bar type TVs were actually electronic toned, matched to the frequency of the old ones.
And yes, dog tags, keys, dropped dinner forks, etc., would operate TV functions. Even a flushing toilet was known to do it
Charles
