Zenith Flash-Matic: The First Wireless Remote Control

The concept of the remote control is much older than we imagine, but its first application in the world of televisions happened in 1950, courtesy of the Zenith Radio Corporation and its Lazy Bones design. That remote relied on an "umbilical cord," and users were quick to complain about the occasional tripping hazard. Faced with the need for a wireless solution, Zenith doubled down with its Flash-Matic, based on photoresistance. In other words... a flashlight and four sensors.

Televisions, audio equipment, air conditioners, alarm systems, and more devices have remote controls today. Some last for years, while others break easily after a few months, but beyond their virtues and flaws, they are already part of our daily technological lives.

However, that wasn't always the case. The remote control had its "luxury item" stage, accompanying the (already very expensive) televisions that were no slouches. The Lazy Bones from Zenith Radio Corporation was the first. With a price of $30 in 1950 (adjusted for inflation, that's $320), the potential user had to think twice before investing such a sum.

The "trigger format" of the Lazy Bones was comfortable and interesting, but not so much the cable that tethered it to the television. User complaints multiplied, and the message was clear: the next generation of remote controls had to be wireless. The responsibility fell on Zenith engineer Eugene J. Polley, who worked at the company from 1935 to 1982. Polley's solution was the Zenith Flash-Matic, a model that in 1955 established the roots of modern remote controls.

The first wireless remote control

Unlike the Lazy Bones, the Flash-Matic was relatively simple on the transmitter side, shifting all the complexity to the receiver, to the point that the user only handled what amounted to a flashlight. Four photoresistors were installed in each corner of the television. The two upper cells controlled channel changes (clockwise or counterclockwise). The lower-left corner housed the resistor responsible for turning the device on and off, and the remaining one brought the volume to zero: it was the famous "mute."

The reason behind the "mute" was promotional, in more than one sense. Zenith didn't hesitate to heavily promote this function (which wasn't available on the TV) as an antidote for overly long commercials. Thanks to the "mute," users could silence advertisements (or "shoot" them, given the gun-shaped remote) and bring the volume back when their favorite show returned.

The Zenith Flash-Matic was far superior to the Lazy Bones, but it wasn't without its flaws. A too-bright room or a beam of sunlight striking the television could drive the sensors crazy, causing spontaneous channel changes. In 1956, the Flash-Matic was replaced: the Zenith Space Command, created by Robert Adler.

This new remote didn't need batteries and used ultrasonic technology (generated by small aluminum rods inside), which remained on the market for a quarter of a century, until infrared remotes took over everything in the early 1980s.

Source: Vintage Everyday