SONY U-MATIC VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDER MODEL VO-1810, 1970's

The worlds first Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) was the Sony VP1100 launched in 1971, using Sony's new U-Matic Cassette ('U' indicates the way it wraps round the head drum), this was prior to Betamax or VHS types which would come later, this first machine, the VP1100, was playback only it could not record. It was however designed for the domestic market, having wooden sides to the cabinet and playing pre-recorded tapes, just like today’s DVD's, this model was eventually replaced by the machine in our picture, the Vo-1810 which had recording capability but no internal TV tuner which was available later. Again designed for the domestic market, but at around £600 pounds sterling few could afford it, the machines would also be used by professional companies using a separately purchased video camera. The unit is over 600mm wide and weighs over 35Kg.

Kindly donated by the Design Museum London

A1592