Wired vs Wireless TV Remotes

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by WISCOJIM

They really didn't have station presets on the radio dial, the radio had separate indicator windows below the dial for each of the presets, with the remotes having paper station tabs circling the dial to match. The presets are actually padders on the radio chassis. I've had many of these over the years.

I am curious why the previous poster described them as "signal seekers". Maybe he has a different definition of the term?

Thanks for the information. I also have a Philco 39-30 which I think uses a similar idea. There are paper inserts for the stations above pushbuttons that correspond to padders inside.

I'm not sure what the previous poster meant by "seekers" either. Maybe he's thinking of Philco's "magnetic tuning" ?

[bandersen]

Getting back to the original topic... Does anyone know why RF/wireless remotes seem to have been abandoned in post-war sets?

[WISCOJIM]

Originally Posted by bandersen

Thanks for the information. I also have a Philco 39-30 which I think uses a similar idea. There are paper inserts for the stations above pushbuttons that correspond to padders inside.

I'm not sure what the previous poster meant by "seekers" either. Maybe he's thinking of Philco's "magnetic tuning" ?

Magnetic Tuning confusion wouldn't be likely, as that was an AFC circuit that was on earlier Philcos without the remote control abilities. It didn't tune from one station to another. I think perhaps he is just suffering from poor memory or an earlier misconception. In fact I don't recall ever having a signal-seeking prewar radio, or if any even existed that early.

Your Philco 39-30 does use a similar tuning system in that it has separate station presets, with the notable exception that stations are selected by mechanical pushbuttons rather than a motor driven by a remote.

[WISCOJIM]

Originally Posted by bandersen

Getting back to to original topic... Does anyone know why RF/wireless remotes seem to have been abandoned in post-war sets?

I would guess that the additional cost and the quirkiness of the Philco remotes may have lead to their demise. Also there was a lot of low cost competition in the market after the war.

Many radio collectors would probably agree that the overall quality of radios was lower after the war, even though their reliability may have been better. After the war many builders didn't even offer what would have been considered a high-end set.

[zenithfan1]

Originally Posted by bandersen

Thanks, it took me 4 years to track one down at a reasonable price.

I don't have a compatible set, although I do have 5 Philco radios including 2 big consoles. I had to limit my madness

You may have noticed a huge console behind my Admiral sets. That's the greatest score of my life. It's Philco a 15DX. Built at the height of the depression in 1932 it sold for $250 (about $3,000 today) and only 1100 were made. I got it for $10

I've been doing a lot of homework before I even think about touching it. Maybe I'll start on it this fall.

Here's more photos if you're interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7003980...578066/detail/

I just spotted this post, that is the coolest radio I've seen. I too would be very careful and wary about restoring it. I would assume that it's a keeper

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by zenithfan1

I just spotted this post, that is the coolest radio I've seen. I too would be very careful and wary about restoring it. I would assume that it's a keeper

Yeah, I think I'll hang on to it I'm really itching to start in on the radio. It has something called 'shadow tuning' I've never seen working in person. It's sort of a precursor to the 'eye' tube.

[bandersen]

I did a little research on the history of remotes and it seems that between the 1939 Mystery and the 1955 Flashmatic, there just weren't any wireless remotes. Weird.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_control