Which Were the First Consumer Products to Have Remote Controls?
The first consumer products featuring remote controls were not television sets, if that was your first guess. The real answer will appear shortly, but it might be interesting to look at some devices which almost made the cut. One could make the argument electric doorbells were the first devices to be operated by remote controls, since the button and the bell may be some distance apart. Some private homes around the turn of the 20th century also had call buttons which would summon servants to various rooms. These systems, however, were generally customized for wealthy homeowners, not the general public. Almost from their inception, remote controls were primarily used for military applications, such as rudimentary guided missiles or remote detonations. Some remote controls could have also been used to set off explosions for roadway construction or demolition work. Model airplanes using remote controls were available as early as 1931, although the cost of such devices was prohibitive for
