The 50th Anniversary of the Space Commander!

[drh4683]

2006 marks the 50th anniversary for the introduction of the worlds first "practical" TV remote control! You know its the Zenith "Space command". Invented by Dr. Robert Adler who worked for the Zenith Radio Corporation in Chicago. First introduced for the 1956 line of Zenith TV receivers. I have decided to make a pictoral time line of the zenith remote controls from the very first to the last mechanical type offered in 1976. I have all but one remote for the collection, and its the first generation space command 400 (has the button design like the first generation sc200) and the 1973 model "SC600X" (which is nearly identical to the "SC500" which is shown but only has one addtional button)

The first picture is a 1956 Zenith with space command "200". Space command 200 was the only remote control available, and was only a channel change up, and mute only function. All other functions were adjusted at the set.
The second picture is a close up of the first generation space command 200 hand control unit.
Pic 3 is the second generation of the space command 200, for the 1957-1958 TV receivers.
Pic 4, second generation space command 400, 1958
pic 5, third generation space command 400, for 1959 TV, also was used for 1962-1963 color TV receivers.
pic 6, first generation space command 300, for 1960 b/w TV, used up through 1961
pic 7, second generation space command 300, for 1962 b/w TV up through 1972(?)
pic 8, fourth generation space command 400, for 1963-1966 b/w TV
pic 9, space command 400 for Color TV, introduced in 1964, through 1965
pic 10, first generation space command 600, 1965 Color TV up through 1972.
pic 11, first generation space command 500, 1971-1972 color TV
pic 12, second geneartion space command 500, 1973 color TV
pic 13, second generation space command 600 "SC600Z" 1974-1976 color TV
pic 14, third geneation space command 500 "SC500X" 1974-1976 color TV
pic 15, unknown, never seen a TV that uses this as its original remote. Some kind of space command 300 for color TV from around 1974-76 Id immagine.
pic 16, first generation space command 100, 1972-1974 color and b/w TV.
pic 17, second generation space command 100, 1974-76 color TV. Blue button designates a different frequency not previously used in space command remote control.
pic 18, a picture of the "zenith" sign in Northlake, IL (chicago suburb) what was Zenith's main distribution center and product showroom! Lets never forget this once great American company and the great inventions and product developments they brought to us!