Coleco Telstar (1976-1978)

Coleco Telstar 

🥇First Home Video Game System to Sell 1 Million Units 

The original Coleco Telstar (Model 6040), launched in June 1976, was a monumentally successful Pong clone that established the Connecticut Leather Company as a major force in the early home video game market. Driven by a revolutionary single chip that hardcoded all game logic directly onto its internal circuitry rather than relying on a complex computer processor, the console offered three built-in, black-and-white sports variations: Tennis, Hockey (which added dual defensive paddles), and a solo Handball mode. While its competitors from Magnavox and Atari frequently retailed for a steep $100, Coleco aggressively priced the Telstar at just $50, turning it into the must-have family electronics item of the 1976 holiday season and driving sales of over one million units. The device featured an internal speaker to generate raw, blipping game audio, integrated control knobs mounted directly onto its wood-grained plastic body, and an analog switch box that broadcasted the video action straight over the household television.

Acquired from: eBay.com