Controla-Tone (1955)

The Controla-Tone was an early do-it-yourself TV remote control, The Controla-Tone was a TV volume controller that worked by the user first removing the back of the TV set and connecting the lead wires of Controla-Tone to the speaker leads. The user could then control the volume output through a small knob on the Controla-Tone unit from his/her easy chair.

It only worked for sound. The Controla-Tone did not power on/off, change channels or adjust picture. It could also work for radio.

Not much else is known about The Controla-Tone Co. of Tacoma, WA other than this is believed to be their only product. It was advertised in the June 1955 issue of Popular Mechanics.

Although initial sales were good, TVs with dedicated remotes that could do far more than control volume were lowering in price and becoming increasingly affordable to the average consumer, making the Controla-Tone pretty much doomed.

1970s Magnavox Drum Console Stereo

These are very rare today, Magnavox Drum Consoles were designed to blend in as an end table as well as match the popular octagon shaped living room furniture of that time.

Chu-Bops

Chu-Bops were awesome.

Chu-Bops came out in 1980. Their first series consisted of eight different then-current album covers by then contemporary artists including Foghat, The Knack, Pat Benatar, Rush, The Spinners and others.

Each Chu-Bops album sleeve had song lyrics and band bios printed on the back of each cover. They also had an order form on the detachable flap for offers (such a protective case to store your Chu-Bops collection) and fan club memberships.

Photo: Stuff We Collect.com

They came in shrink wrap. The gum was your typical pink hard gum seen in most baseball card packs, but in disc shape. Like a tiny vinyl LP (there was no music stamped into them and you couldn't play them on a record player). On the shelf, they looked like tiny vinyl LPs

Later series included an all Beatles set, and Elvis set and several others until the Chu-Bops line was discontinued in 1983.

Tab Flavors of the 1970s

It wasn't ONLY just cola. In the 1970s, Tab had a line of diet soda flavors. (Photos: USA Soda)

The Starscroll Horoscope Vending Machine

If you were in any department store or local bar in the late 1970s and early '80s, you definitely remember these.

They were vending machines that for 25¢ (50¢ later), gave you a monthly horoscope. Just twist the middle knob to your sign, plunk in your money and out came this neat little scroll. (Make sure you twisted the middle knob to your sign's scrolls, and make sure your sign's scrolls were still in stock BEFORE you plunked your money in.)

And out came this neat little scroll.

They disappeared by the early '80s.