13 Old-School TV Accessories from the ’70s That Would Be Obsolete Now
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During the 1970s, television wasn’t just entertainment, it was an event in the household. The weekly shows were only part of the experience, the array of gadgets and accessories that accompanied them were just as much a part of the experience as the shows themselves. Back then, you could take a few accessories and make your watching into a little theater event.
Today, these gadgets are obsolete. These aren’t just out of date accessories, they would probably perplex anyone who didn’t grow up with them! Is it nostalgia you’re here for or a lesson in the oddities of older TV habits? Either way, here are the old school accessories that have finally faded into the static.
Channel Lock Boxes
In the ’70s, parents monitored what kids watched in their own way. Channel lock boxes were little devices you could use to ‘lock’ some channels so the little ones couldn’t get to the inappropriate programs. The locks, for all the space, were far from secured, and anything a tech savvy kid could not figure out with enough effort. The idea of digital parental controls has since evolved, but these were a way for parents who were just starting to worry about the TV content to help provide a sense of control.
Remote Control Clickers
They’re remote control ‘clickers’ from the days when remotes didn’t have a full alphabet and emojis, the 1970s. These clickers transmitted sound waves, rather than today’s infrared or Bluetooth remotes, and wouldn’t work unless you were within a few feet of the television. The TV could hear the high pitched clicking noise that each button emitted, and respond by turning the volume up or switching channels. However, if you shook a keychain or jangled loose change nearby, your TV could just change channels on its own! It was a quirky, sometimes frustrating gadget, but it was also the first bite of “couch command.”
Rabbit Ear Antennas
The infamous rabbit ear antennas no one could forget from the ’70s. Two long metal rods sat on top of the TV set, waiting to be adjusted when the screen turned into a fuzzy mess. The picture got snowy and you might be twisting and contorting the antenna to the perfect angle, sometimes even balancing a bit of aluminum foil on top for that extra boost.
Magnavox Odyssey Game System
The Magnavox Odyssey technically was a game system but it was so innovative in how it blurred the line between TV accessory and entertainment console that it was a game system, even if only by a tick. One of the first of the now thousands of consoles, it was launched in 1972 and had translucent overlays you would tape to the screen to mimic different ‘backgrounds’ of games. The games weren’t fancy, just lines and dots. But it gave families a peek at interactive entertainment, the likes of which was unheard of just a few years earlier.
Static Dischargers
The static discharger was one of the ’70s’ most often overlooked accessories, a device that plugged into the TV to keep the amount of static electricity building up on the screen to a minimum. Old tube TVs were fond of collecting dust, and then if you’d go to touch the screen you’d get a static-y crackle. The static discharger wasn’t exactly foolproof, but dust and static shocks were cut down.
TV Trays
TV trays… who doesn’t remember them? Every ’70s household had these foldable mini tables to set dinner plates while watching your favorite show. It was a bit of a luxury, a family bonding experience, and dinner in front of the TV. The trays had usually a patterns or an image of the popular shows on them.
Color Bars and Test Patterns
And, back before 24/7 broadcasting, the channels really did “sign off” overnight, leaving a color bar test pattern in their stead. These patterns were like TV color adjusting patterns and there’s a high pitched sound. Turning on the TV in the morning to those color bars and a grating beep was no big deal. Those patterns are gone, but they’re forever burned into the memories of early risers and night owls from the ’70s.
Rotary Antenna Controllers
Some households even got rabbit ears, and if that wasn’t enough, some households installed rooftop antennas for even better reception. They usually needed a little bit of adjustment to those antennas, and that’s where the rotary antenna controller came in: A box that sat next to the TV that had a dial on it that you could turn to rotate the antenna on the roof. It was like a game of trial and error, and if you didn’t take care, you could lose your signal completely.
8 Track Players attached to TVs
Multitasking was all the rage in the ’70s before it was even cool. Built in 8-track players were also some of the TVs, where the viewers could easily switch from their favorite program to their favorite music. It was a little clunkier, with a lot more moving parts and like today’s entertainment systems, but this was the precursor.
Wooden TV Cabinets
In the 1970s, a TV wasn’t just a screen; it was living room furniture. The TV looked almost like a piece of art, as wooden TV cabinets made the TV seem. Some were even carved detailing and had a glossy finish, with doors you could close to hide the screen when it wasn’t in use. TVs were the envy of the home, a hefty cabinet, and moving it was an ordeal. Those big, bulky wooden cabinets are now a thing of the past, thanks to the TVs of today – TVs that hang on the wall or are so lightweight you can move them with one hand.
Channel Dials
Have you ever complained about scrolling through streaming options? Why not turn a physical dial to navigate channels! In the ’70s, TVs would come with a rotary dial you’d twist to change channels, and you’d hear that satisfying “click” with each turn. Finding the right channel was a patience and precision one, one wrong twist and you’d miss your favorite program.
Zenith Space Command Remotes
The company that really kicked off the remote revolution was Zenith. At the time, their Space Command remotes were often heavy and could operate across the room without cables. The early remotes were almost indestructible, but they didn’t have buttons, they had levers or dials. The Zenith Space Command was the prototype for today’s wireless wonders, even if it now appears to be a tool from a science fiction set, and far from today’s palm sized remotes with features.
Video Game Console Adapters
Video games were just getting started in the late ’70s, and the idea of connecting an early console to your TV wasn’t simple. To make everything work, the special adapters had to be attached to the back of the television. Far from being user friendly, these adapters required multiple steps to get your game working. Setting up a gaming system back then was a project which required patience and a little bit of luck; unlike today’s plug and play HDMI connections.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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