Found this "capehart" in the alley today

[mpatoray]

RCA was rebranding Sony and Bosch VTR's on the broadcast side in 79. The sony BVH-100 became the TH-100 and the Portable BVH-500A became the TH-50. The VHS VCR's they started selling in 1977 where rebranded Panasonic's.

Zenith did the same thing rebranding Sony Betamax VCR's

In the computer industry there was almost a panic sweeping through with a high level of the NIH (Not invented here) syndrome. Which gave us such lovely things as the Apple Twiggy drive on the Lisa 1, and the DEC RX-50 drive on the Rainbow and Professional 350 PC's.

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by mpatoray

The VHS VCR's they (RCA) started selling in 1977 where rebranded Panasonic's.

Indeed, In fact when the "4 hour" VHS machines first came out in the fall of 1977 some large department stores sold both brands side by side, with the Panasonic usually commanding a premium price. In the NW, the RCA sold for about $1000 ($999?) and the Panasonic for $100 more. These were well made solid machines, with solid castings, that weighed perhaps 35 lbs! I suspect that at that time, very few factories were capable of producing such a device!

RCA:
http://vintageelectronics.betamaxcol...delvct200.html
Panasonic:
http://vintageelectronics.betamaxcol...elpv-1000.html

Not what I would call "cheap offshore junk"

jr

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

Indeed, In fact when the "4 hour" VHS machines first came out in the fall of 1977 some large department stores sold both brands side by side, with the Panasonic usually commanding a premium price. In the NW, the RCA sold for about $1000 ($999?) and the Panasonic for $100 more. These were well made solid machines, with solid castings, that weighed perhaps 35 lbs! I suspect that at that time, very few factories were capable of producing such a device!

RCA:
http://vintageelectronics.betamaxcol...delvct200.html
Panasonic:
http://vintageelectronics.betamaxcol...elpv-1000.html

Not what I would call "cheap offshore junk"

jr

I bought my first VCR, January 1st 1982. An appliance store ran a large ad that they open on New Years day and had a Magnavox for $595. I was never that crazy about Magnavox products, but I knew that Panasonic built it and was slightly less expensive.
It was the first one with the smaller, newer design, but still top load.