We got our first TV in 1955. It was a reconditioned black and white. Dad attached a sheet of aluminium foil to the bunny ears to (or so he believed) improve reception. It was another 8 years before we got a color set.
There’s a reason there weren’t 12 channels in a given area. Tv sets couldn’t separate adjacent channels. The exceptions were; Ch4 & 5 (They’re not actually adjacent) and between Ch6 & 7 as 7 through 13 are on a much higher band. UHF (14 thru 83) was on an even higher band.
But around the 12-station dial there was the ring that you had to twist to fine-tune in the station from just being static. There were also the vertical- and horizontal-hold knobs that had to be adjusted to keep the picture stationary, and they needed to be re-adjusted as the power tubes in the set got warmer. Watching television was a skill! (We got our first set in 1959, and we lived in a viewing area that could pick up only one station.)
When my family was moving into a new house, the first thing I noticed was that we now had a tower antenna with a rotor-control. All thoughts of moving stuff into the house went out the window as I played with that setup to see what stations I could get.
A few years later, after an ice storm brought that antenna down and dad refused to replace it, I took a portable TV up into the attic and attempted to see what stations I could get. I managed to pull in a station that was 100 miles away, and it was the only time I ever got that one. Which brings up an interesting point not yet mentioned here. Sometimes, apparently due to signals bouncing off the atmosphere, you can get stations from way off. I once got a station for a couple of minutes from three states away!
At least back then you knew exactly what you would be watching any given night. Another dad trick was when you were adjusting the antenna, you accidentally stood in a place that made it work better. And he would say, stay there!
Here in the UK our set had 4 channel buttons on the set itself, and we thought that was quite enough ! Actually, it was, and the addition of a remote control and many many more channels has done nothing for the improvement of programmes, so now we watch TV less. That’s progress for you !
Ooh! ooh! I almost forgot: in the early days of color TVs you could even buy a color wheel that would connect into the black and white TV and spin a tinted wheel in front of the screen to produce a low quality color picture. I never saw one in person, just ads for them.
But the most interesting thing about the TV when I was very young was that it was used by Santa Claus! Yes, it was!
My family was Jewish so we did not have a tree, etc. for Christmas. However I got Christmas gifts (which I later – in my 30s – found out were Christmas gifts given to my dad by clients for me and also by the foreman of my grandfather’s shop). I was upset as we did not have a chimney or a fireplace for Santa to come into the house. My parents explained that if a house does not have same then Santa comes into the house through the TV set – yes, through the TV set. And Christmas morning my gifts from him were in front of the console TV in the living room – so why wouldn’t I believe this?
Ahuehuete almost 3 years ago
It also had a UHF dial for more than 13 channels. And VHF was channels 2-13, there wasn’t a channel 1.
alasko almost 3 years ago
Okay smart guy, set the timer to record a show next week.
Dirty Dragon almost 3 years ago
No Arlo… Dad didn’t want to get up to change the channel himself.
wjones almost 3 years ago
Our first TV had the UHF channels, but it would be 11 years later before we seen our first UHF channel.
thomas_matkey almost 3 years ago
My parents first TV set had a round screen…and rabbit ear antennas. Spent a lot of time fiddling with the rabbit ears trying to get a decent picture.
Thechildinme almost 3 years ago
We got our first TV in 1955. It was a reconditioned black and white. Dad attached a sheet of aluminium foil to the bunny ears to (or so he believed) improve reception. It was another 8 years before we got a color set.
Da'Dad almost 3 years ago
Thanks to WGN we had four channels. I remember when PBS began broadcasting the fifth, featuring mostly lame programs.
Charliegirl Premium Member almost 3 years ago
I grew up without ever having a tv. The first one I had was in 1960 when I got married,.
whahoppened almost 3 years ago
There’s a reason there weren’t 12 channels in a given area. Tv sets couldn’t separate adjacent channels. The exceptions were; Ch4 & 5 (They’re not actually adjacent) and between Ch6 & 7 as 7 through 13 are on a much higher band. UHF (14 thru 83) was on an even higher band.
Sanspareil almost 3 years ago
My dad was ahead of his neighbours in England in the late fifties and early sixties!
He was the first to get a telephone in our house, which the locals poo poohed and laughed at him!
He also got a “HUGE” 15 inch black and white TV and my brothers and I would watch Bill and Ben the flowerpot men and Andy Pandy,
It’s a square World with Micheal Bentine and the Arthur Hanes comedy show
Later on we got the first Dr Who episodes and Quatermass and Bonanaza from the US!
Cutting edge at the time!
Skeptical Meg almost 3 years ago
13 channels? Really? I’ve never seen a tv with 13 channel positions. Who made it?
well-i-never almost 3 years ago
Oh, he knew. And he knew how to use you too.
The Pro from Dover almost 3 years ago
Son you’re younger than me, turn on Channel 5.
Moonkey Premium Member almost 3 years ago
I think back then people had kids just so they had someone to change channels and jiggle antennas.
david_42 almost 3 years ago
I remember the early remotes. Bong – on/off Bing – Change channels. Except the channel number could only increase until it wrapped back to “2”.
kingbrlee Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Our first tv was a Sylvania that had a lighted ring around the picture tube, it was supposed to make watching easier on your eyes.
Old man look at my life almost 3 years ago
I remember when the evening new was only 15 minutes. Not much happened in those days.
seismic-2 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
But around the 12-station dial there was the ring that you had to twist to fine-tune in the station from just being static. There were also the vertical- and horizontal-hold knobs that had to be adjusted to keep the picture stationary, and they needed to be re-adjusted as the power tubes in the set got warmer. Watching television was a skill! (We got our first set in 1959, and we lived in a viewing area that could pick up only one station.)
gigagrouch almost 3 years ago
My day had a great saying: “It has an OFF switch!”
royq27 almost 3 years ago
Not to mention the rabbit ears…
ChessPirate almost 3 years ago
When my family was moving into a new house, the first thing I noticed was that we now had a tower antenna with a rotor-control. All thoughts of moving stuff into the house went out the window as I played with that setup to see what stations I could get.
A few years later, after an ice storm brought that antenna down and dad refused to replace it, I took a portable TV up into the attic and attempted to see what stations I could get. I managed to pull in a station that was 100 miles away, and it was the only time I ever got that one. Which brings up an interesting point not yet mentioned here. Sometimes, apparently due to signals bouncing off the atmosphere, you can get stations from way off. I once got a station for a couple of minutes from three states away!
gregcomn almost 3 years ago
Don’t forget periodically taking the tubes to 7-11 to check if they were burnt out.
Vangoghdog01 almost 3 years ago
Another example of one of the mysteries of Genetics. People below the age of 14 know, intuitively how yo operate new technology.
Out of the Past almost 3 years ago
At least back then you knew exactly what you would be watching any given night. Another dad trick was when you were adjusting the antenna, you accidentally stood in a place that made it work better. And he would say, stay there!
tomcervo almost 3 years ago
Don’t forget the antenna rotor.
MCProfessor almost 3 years ago
And when my dad wanted to change channels, I was the designated remote control.
Shonkin almost 3 years ago
He forgot the horizontal and vertical hold knobs.
ComicGent almost 3 years ago
Here in the UK our set had 4 channel buttons on the set itself, and we thought that was quite enough ! Actually, it was, and the addition of a remote control and many many more channels has done nothing for the improvement of programmes, so now we watch TV less. That’s progress for you !
suelou almost 3 years ago
That’s OK… The young people now wouldn’t know how to use it either!
walt1968pat Premium Member almost 3 years ago
And a round screen about 10 inches across.
flagmichael almost 3 years ago
Ooh! ooh! I almost forgot: in the early days of color TVs you could even buy a color wheel that would connect into the black and white TV and spin a tinted wheel in front of the screen to produce a low quality color picture. I never saw one in person, just ads for them.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 3 years ago
Our adjustments were in back, the picture in front. I was the only one who knew how to work it. I was a four year old tyrant.
edeloriea14 almost 3 years ago
These days, there’s over 57 channels and nothing on.
Hatter almost 3 years ago
And rabbit ears with tin foil antenna.
mafastore almost 3 years ago
But the most interesting thing about the TV when I was very young was that it was used by Santa Claus! Yes, it was!
My family was Jewish so we did not have a tree, etc. for Christmas. However I got Christmas gifts (which I later – in my 30s – found out were Christmas gifts given to my dad by clients for me and also by the foreman of my grandfather’s shop). I was upset as we did not have a chimney or a fireplace for Santa to come into the house. My parents explained that if a house does not have same then Santa comes into the house through the TV set – yes, through the TV set. And Christmas morning my gifts from him were in front of the console TV in the living room – so why wouldn’t I believe this?