Educate me: 1955 Zenith Flashmatic TV and remote

[cwmoser]

1955 Zenith Flashmatic TV and remote

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tchlink:top:en

Educate me about this TV. I was not in the TV repair business and have never see this type TV. I do recall reading posts about some TV that used a light as a remote control and I assume this is that TV.

What is the story about this TV? Was it problematic? Great performer? When it was introduced, what was the perceptions about it? Anything interesting about the circuitry? Current value?

Thanks

Carl

[leadlike]

You're right-the flashmatic used light to trigger remote functions. The remote was basically a pistol-shaped flashlight, that you pulled the trigger on to activate the light beam.

The television had four light sensors, one in each corner of the screen, so you pointed the remote beam at the corner that represented the function you wanted to activate. Wireless and magical, yes, but not without some major issues. The biggest one being that you needed to view the set in a darkened tomb. It seems any stray light would set off the remote sensors, and god forbid the setting sun crept into your living room and across the face of the set, because then it would act possessed as all the sensors would kick on at once.

Needless to say, Zenith went back to the drawing board, and came up with the Space Command line of remotes. Until modern IR remotes came along, it was the ultrasonic remotes like the Space Command that everyone used. So Zenith did get it right on the second try.

[zenithfan1]

WOW! I've wanted one of these forever!!! They NEVER show up around here and you'd think they would being so close to Chicago. Maybe someday *sigh*

[Sandy G]

Those ol' Zenith remotes were Ultra-Kewl..My grandad had a B&W version, & later one of the color versions...You'd hit the button, & there'd be this "Ker-Chunk ! Ker-Chunk ! Ker-Chunk !" sound from deep inside the TV, as if MASSIVE amounts of Real Steel were being moved around...Kinda like a drawbridge or something...

[Eric H]

You can bet that $150 bid is for the remote, the TV"s themselves seem to hold little interest. I got mine for $10 without the remote.

There are some pictures of the internals posted here: http://www.vintagetvsets.com/fm1.htm

[zenithfan1]

It's odd that there's not much interest in the set seeing how rare they are.

[Dave A]

Same seller has a 1956 Zenith with an ultrasonic remote. Is this the correct remote?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1956-Zenith-Spac...item414ebd2dd5

[Phil Nelson]

My experience with radio motorized tuners is that they're like dating the blonde cheerleader. Fun, but high maintenance. Perhaps not the ideal life partner.

Eric's right, toy collectors would wet themselves over the remote. Picture the winner telling the seller, "Pack the up the remote and I'll pay you an extra $20 disposal fee to throw the TV in the garbage."

Phil Nelson