Beta or UHS? Get the facts in 1976

[Telecolor 3007]

What is that thing on top of the "Sony" machine? A mechanical clock?

[Dubis7]

Originally Posted by Telecolor 3007

What is that thing on top of the "Sony" machine? A mechanical clock?

It's a timer. The original Betamax deck didn't have an internal timer because they didn't want consumers to have to turn in the entire unit for service if the timer failed. At least that's the official reasoning. It was also sold as a separate accessory, though, so that may have been part of it.

I don't think that's what the production timer looked like, though. If I recall correctly, it had a round analog clock and a dial timer, but I may be mistaken.

[Dubis7]

Originally Posted by Dubis7

I don't think that's what the production timer looked like, though. If I recall correctly, it had a round analog clock and a dial timer, but I may be mistaken.

No, ignore me. I don't know where I got that from but a quick search is showing that timer design made it to production units. I don't see any of the one I described. I must be thinking of something else.

[MX70]

Dubis7 , I think you may be thinking of the Quasar VX format "Great Time Machine" vcr timer from around '76 or so. Those had an analogue clock and timer face in a brushed aluminum trimmed housing.