He also had a device that would turn the house antenna so that you could modify the reception you're getting for the TV. I've never seen anyone else with a device that like that. The VHS rewinder just jogged my memory about it because they were next to each other.
We had it as well! Turn it one way for ABC, turn it the other way for NBC, FOX. I don't remember the details but we had a little label on the dial telling you which way to point it for which channels.