Couch potatoes...inventor of remote dies at 96

[Wathen1955]

Couch potatoes everywhere can pause and thank Eugene Polley for hours of feet-up channel surfing. His invention, the first wireless TV remote, began as a luxury, but with the introduction of hundreds of channels and viewing technologies it has become a necessity.

Just ask anyone who's lost a remote.

Polley died of natural causes Sunday at a suburban Chicago hospital, said Zenith Electronics spokesman John Taylor. The former Zenith engineer was 96.

Excite News - Eugene Polley, inventor of TV remote, dies at 96 (http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120522/D9UTUCPO1.html)

[mrvette]

Strange, I don't remember the 'Flash matic tuning' at all, by time I was full time TV repair Zenith was into the 4 button bonger units, mechanical spring hung aluminum bars that were struck to ring at various distinct audio frequencies and the mic at the TV fed tuned circuits to activate various functions....channel, volume, mute, color, tint....

I can't say if his work was predating the clanger units, or post dating them in production.....

All I can say is, back in them daze, working as a TV inside tech meant you really had to know electronics about 1/2 step away from engineering level....

today, just buy a new one....no choice, no parts available....

:sadangel:

[NeedSpeed]

http://www.terramedia.co.uk/media/television/Zenith_Flash-Matic_ad.gif

[VITE1]

Strange, I don't remember the 'Flash matic tuning' at all, by time I was full time TV repair Zenith was into the 4 button bonger units, mechanical spring hung aluminum bars that were struck to ring at various distinct audio frequencies and the mic at the TV fed tuned circuits to activate various functions....channel, volume, mute, color, tint....

I can't say if his work was predating the clanger units, or post dating them in production.....

All I can say is, back in them daze, working as a TV inside tech meant you really had to know electronics about 1/2 step away from engineering level....

today, just buy a new one....no choice, no parts available....

:sadangel:

I remember those. If I shook my keys and change the channel. It pissed off my friends dad each time i did it.

[VITE1]

:sadangel::sadangel:

[xXBUDXx]

My parents had "remote controlled" TV as long as I can remember.


Bart, go change the channel.:leaving:

[JRD77VET]

My parents had "remote controlled" TV as long as I can remember.


Bart, go change the channel.:leaving:

We had the same one at my house only it was named Jeff :lol:

[bradc6]

My parents had "remote controlled" TV as long as I can remember.


Bart, go change the channel.:leaving:

Don't change it too fast or you'll strip it. :slap:

[JRD77VET]

Don't change it too fast or you'll strip it. :slap:

I'm cleaning the dust out of it. :leaving:

[xXBUDXx]

Don't change it too fast or you'll strip it. :slap:

Click............click..............click..............I know the routine all too well :D

[onedef92]

I remember the wired remotes, too.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq137/qandpd/DSC01160.jpg

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss33/RCADimensia/PA150345.jpg

I also recall Zenith's Space Command models that allowed you to answer the phone through the TV, tooo.

[Yerf Dog]

Don't change it too fast or you'll strip it. :slap:

:rofl:

That's what the vise-grips are for. :D

[onedef92]

:rofl:

That's what the vise-grips are for. :D

Remember rabbit ears? And warming up the vacuum tubes in the converter box?

[Wathen1955]

Remember rabbit ears? And warming up the vacuum tubes in the converter box?Seems like that was just yesterday.

[onedef92]

Seems like that was just yesterday.

Tell me about it....