Quality First

Zenith introduced its first line of black-and-white television receivers in 1948. Two years later, Zenith came up with a remote control called the "Lazy Bones" which was connected with wires to the set. The next development was the "Flashmatic" in 1955, a wireless remote control that used a light beam to signal the TV (a photosensitive pickup device) to change stations. At the cost of $260, those who could afford it bought their latest remote control device in 1956 called "Space Command." It worked by sending an ultrasonic tone to the set, where it was picked up with a miniature microphone sensitive to only that tone. 

Zenith continued research and development on color television throughout the early 1950s, but the general manager, Eugene McDonald, was adamant about producing second-rate color televisions before the technology was proven, so Zenith continued improvements on its black-and-white televisions. He meant that. In 1927, Zenith adopted their famous slogan, "The quality goes in before the name goes on." In about a decade, the color television breakthrough came when Zenith introduced a ten-receiver line of color sets. Demand for these sets grew so quickly that it had to expand its facilities. 

Note: So many early Zenith ads featured a couple in formal wear preparing for an evening of supreme viewing around a 9" screen, as suggested by this 1951 illustration above. Like most electronic innovations, television was a big deal.