The Flying McCoys by Glenn McCoy and Gary McCoy for October 10, 2021

I found a pool cue to work fine, especially with the rubber on the butt end.

I was my dad’s remote control.

I grew up under the flight path of MSP. I’d get up and walk across the room to turn up the volume as a plane flew over and then get and walk over to turn down the volume when the plane was far enough away. Watching TV was a bit more of a physical activity back then.

I remember a channel knob numbered up to 13 …

… and a warning from the TV “Don’t touch that dial.”

I remember my dad having one of those wooden, folding rulers.

In 1950 there was barely a glimmer of Zenith’s tv’s. The major brand was Admiral. Sold like hot cakes. Maybe Zenith was too pricey.

LOL!

My folks ALWAYS had Zenith tvs. Never anything else until Zenith went away. LG electronics has owned the Zenith brand since ’99. Ugh!

Interesting stuff at zenith.com.

Before the remote parents let their kids sit in front of the TV just for that reason. Well, that and adjusting the antennae.

Am I remembering right that the first remotes were corded?

Well, I wouldn’t touch that with 10’ pole!

New technology has to start somewhere.

My grandfather wired a switch at his chair so he could mute commercials.

I had the pliers when the knob broke, not sure if that qualifies as a remote though.

i remember those folding rulers as a kid.

My dad used to adjust his set with a stick.

Poor, childless engineer! :)

My dad made his own remote. Me.

Remember when vacuum tubes needed changed out, and when they’d burn in a bit you’d have to hold a mirror for your dad who had the back off the set adjusting the trimmer caps to get the picture in range of the front controls?

I was in bunk beds on the top bunk so I made something like that, a long square dowel with four nails on the end and I taped them to make two pairs so it would grip the knob. Used it all through high school.

My Dad got his first remote along about 1949. Me, he called Gofer, go for the ______.

I remember pulling out all the tubes and going to the drug store to test which one went bad.