Error in "Flintstones" commercial

[Daffyfan2002]

I've seen the commercial for "The Flintstones" on CN several times. However, I think they made a mistake. They say remote controls were invented in 1956. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't those things not come out until at least the late 80s?

[Mike Toole]

That commercial is completely incorrect, as far as I know. The first teleivison remote was invented in 1950, but it was NOT cordless. Consumers liked the idea, but hated the cord.

The first wireless remote control was invented in 1955. It was called the "flashmatic", and used photo cells. It worked, but it was unpredictable-- too much direct light would trigger the controls. Ultrasonic remotes were invented later in the same year, and was used until the early 80s.

You're correct in that CURRENT remote control technology (which uses infared) was not widely in use until the 80s. But wireless TV remote controls have been with us for quite awhile.

[Pilmedium]

Originally posted by Mike Toole
The first wireless remote control was invented in 1955.

1955 or 1956? Maybe they made those commercials as jokes? :confused:

[Daffyfan2002]

Maybe, but I think the information should have been a bit more accurate. After all, a lot of kids watch that network. Why tell them something that isn't true? Of course, we're talking about a show that shows cavemen and dinosaurs living at the same time. Oh well, that's the Cartoon Network for you.

[J Lee]

Actually, my friend's parents had a 1962 Zenith television with a remote control -- on, off and the channel changer only went in ascending order between Ch. 2 and 13 (no UHF), and the changer activated a mechanical motor inside the TV that physically "moved" the tuner dial from one channel to the next, with a very audible noise. But it was a wireless remote control, and the TV was not that expensive, so remote controls would have been known to the people at Hanna Barbera during the time "The Flintstones" was in production.

[dendawg]

Originally posted by J Lee
Actually, my friend's parents had a 1962 Zenith television with a remote control -- on, off and the channel changer only went in ascending order between Ch. 2 and 13 (no UHF), and the changer activated a mechanical motor inside the TV that physically "moved" the tuner dial from one channel to the next, with a very audible noise. But it was a wireless remote control, and the TV was not that expensive, so remote controls would have been known to the people at Hanna Barbera during the time "The Flintstones" was in production.

LOL! :D My parents had an older version of that same model! :D :cool:

[Naraht]

Originally posted by Daffyfan2002
Maybe, but I think the information should have been a bit more accurate. After all, a lot of kids watch that network. Why tell them something that isn't true? Of course, we're talking about a show that shows cavemen and dinosaurs living at the same time. Oh well, that's the Cartoon Network for you.

So, CN should change their programing to Animated documentaries from the 1940s?

CN is out there to entertain, not educate. They weren't inacturate (I haven't seen the ad in question, but if it said the remote was invented in 56, and it was invented in the mid 50s..I don't see a problem.

Cars were invented in the 1800s, but they weren't nearly as advanced as the cars of today, and people know that...so one could logically assume if the remote was invented in the 50s, it wasn't the universal controls half you house remote you have today.

[Sogturtle]

My parents had the 1959 Zenith blonde-metal cabinet TV. The remote was fascinating in that it was BATTERY-FREE !! Said goober had only two buttons (designed as a single bar though), one triggered the motor in the TV to change the channel (forward only), while the other was a "click" volume control and on/off control. Peering down through the gold wire screen on the end revealed what looked to be two small solid metal bars (corresponding to aformentioned buttons on top) mounted in the center. When a button was pressed it briefly moved one of those babies in what I believe was very much like a tuning fork being struck to create a particular sound vibration... The thing was nearly foolproof!

A later TV (Sylvania -1967 color) had a remote that triggered motor(s) in said TV, actually causing the volume knob to turn!!! Ditto for the color and tint controls. Was always fun to sneak the remote and cause the knobs to start turning just as someone was attempting to manually adjust it (triggering shock and puzzlement at "self-moving knobs").

[Feslmogh]

I remember seeing one of those remote controllers back in the seventies.