Here's a nice mid-60's RCA remote control up for auction

http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2203964687&category=3638

I just saw one of the pictures of the circuit board of that RCA remote on ebay. Looks like someone left the battery in it way too long--it looks as if the cell is starting to leak, or has been for some time. I wouldn't be surprised if the contacts are corroded now to the point of needing replacement.

http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2203964687&category=3638

This remote probably uses one of those mercury cell batteries. Being that it has been several years since those batteries were taken off the shelves, I'd say this battery has been in this remote for a long long time! Ya never know... it might clean up nicely.

No one else seemed interested in this remote, so I went ahead and got it (even though I don't have a set to match it up with). Perhaps this means I will soon find an RCA remote set (wishful thinking). ;)

I have an RCA remote set from about 67/68 with the original working remote. The battery in it looked to be about 25 years old or older & still worked fine. I really wish I knew where I stashed it as its been in storage for 5 years & I'm worried it may have leaked.

The RCA remote arrived in the mail. The battery in this one is a round 9 volt. The insides were not too bad. Mainly had corrosion at the battery contacts. They cleaned up pretty good. The rest of the insides looked good. The contacts for the buttons were all clean and operate smoothly.

I have another remote for a Magnavox that uses the 4.7 volt mercury cel. I could use a 4.5 volt photo flash battery in it if I needed it.

Too bad that they didn't use square 9 volts in these remotes. Weren't the square batteries around back in the mid 60's?