I don't have a lot of information, unfortunately, but here's something interesting I ran across while reading my favorite website The Straight Dope:

[Link: straightdope.com]

Apparently the first remotes worked with high frequency sounds, which meant you could duplicate remote commands on accident. In this case, a Slinky could do it.

And on a more personal note, our family's first VCR was a Beta, which had a remote that connected to the front of the VCR with a wire. I still have the Beta player and remote, although the player doesn't work anymore.

tim