What was a Pre-remote channel changer?

Answer 1

There was a knob (or handle or dial) on the set that changed the channels as you turned it. Often there were 2 knobs: One that had VHF channels 2-13 and "UHF", and when you set it at UHF then you could use the second knob to change UHF channels 14 to about 83 (I think). These were and still are standard antenna broadcast channels. Channels with higher numbers (84 to the hundreds and thousands) are cable / satellite channels only... These knobs on early sets changed a "mechanical" switch that set the TV to receive a particular channel. It went "click-click-click" as it was turned. They will still work. Newer TVs have electronic channel selectors, usually controlled by a remote device, and also often have buttons right on the set that will also electronically select the channels.