Zenith Space Command remote “clicker” remotes did not use batteries: they were mechanical.

  Pressing a button struck a small aluminum rod inside the remote, producing an ultrasonic tone that the TV detected.

> making the TV louder or quieter and randomly change channels

The 4 buttons were labelled: channel lower, volume mute, on off, channel higher. Or on an older version: ON OFF, LEFT, RIGHT, MUTE As per photos: https://www.theverge.com/23810061/zenith-space-command-remot...