VCRs were expensive even in the 1980s. For example, when my parents bought their first VCR around 1984 or 1985, they paid close to $500 for it and it was a floor model that originally cost close to $900.
I had something like this when I first bought one. It was a top loader and had these buttons that had to be in different places and a remote that had a seven foot long wire you put in the thing.
@spacehelmetforacow It's a VHS. As to the maker, probably Hitachi or JVC, not my field of knowledge but I've been inside a Dimensia series CD player and it screams Hitachi. By the time SelectaVision came out RCA made less of their own stuff.
I don't think they called the VCRs by this brand by the time the CED players were introduced but it was a popular trademark with RCA and goes back years before usage on a consumer product.
@ 0:13 "Caution: The unauthorized recording of television programs and other material may infringe the rights of others." ha ha. But not after Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc. in 1984.
@777jones The X rated porno's were NEVER broadcast unencrypted. Although to the right of the VCR at the beginning of the video, you can see a cable TV tuner, I wonder if they had a descrambler for the premium "X rated" adult channels.
I was a kid when my family bought one of these huge machines. They were the first VCR's back then, and everybody had to have one. I recall its cost somewhere about $300, which was a lot of money back then. I think it weighed nearly 30 lbs.!
Those kids are all grown up with teen kids by now! How times have changed.
Bless VCRs for letting us record all those shows that were neither on prerecorded VHS or DVD/Blu-ray yet. I still got me some VHS tapes and I'll keep em as long as my VCR/DVD combo lasts.
at about 15, that was around the first time "copyright" bullshit was put in our face and treated us like animals. "record this movie, and we will come to your house and break your legs". that was how it was like. and that's still how it's like.
God, I love my DVR
DrivingonSepulveda2 1 month ago
The RCA SelectaVision cost $750 dollars back in 1978, and the SONY version cost $900 dollars! Entertainment for the rich back in those days!
THX1205 2 months ago
@THX1205
VCRs were expensive even in the 1980s. For example, when my parents bought their first VCR around 1984 or 1985, they paid close to $500 for it and it was a floor model that originally cost close to $900.
glennmillerfan 2 months ago
I had something like this when I first bought one. It was a top loader and had these buttons that had to be in different places and a remote that had a seven foot long wire you put in the thing.
Sheri451 4 months ago
that select-a-vision thing was huge
video77cy 4 months ago
Was this an RCA-built format, or a rebranded VHS or Beta deck? The tapes look a *little* like VHS, but I can't quite tell...
spacehelmetforacow 7 months ago
@spacehelmetforacow It's a VHS. As to the maker, probably Hitachi or JVC, not my field of knowledge but I've been inside a Dimensia series CD player and it screams Hitachi. By the time SelectaVision came out RCA made less of their own stuff.
I don't think they called the VCRs by this brand by the time the CED players were introduced but it was a popular trademark with RCA and goes back years before usage on a consumer product.
steadfastcoward 2 months ago
@ 0:13 "Caution: The unauthorized recording of television programs and other material may infringe the rights of others." ha ha. But not after Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc. in 1984.
nsputnik 10 months ago
We TOTALLY had a selectavision when they came out.... The dang thing just kept on working for years!
4gasem 10 months ago
My dad bought one of these in 1978..I was 3and promptly loaded my grilled cheese sandwich into it...Hey I was only 3 what did I know
StoneCold75 10 months ago
When the mom says "educational shows," her eyes are saying something totally different.
777jones 11 months ago
@777jones The X rated porno's were NEVER broadcast unencrypted. Although to the right of the VCR at the beginning of the video, you can see a cable TV tuner, I wonder if they had a descrambler for the premium "X rated" adult channels.
MIKON8ERISBACK 10 months ago
RCA cost $750.00 dollars back in 1978! SONY cost $900.00 dollars!
THX1205 1 year ago
I remember those RCA brand tapes, because that's what my dad used for his porno.
lemonrind 1 year ago
I was a kid when my family bought one of these huge machines. They were the first VCR's back then, and everybody had to have one. I recall its cost somewhere about $300, which was a lot of money back then. I think it weighed nearly 30 lbs.!
RK831 1 year ago
I'd bet those colossal old VCRs were more reliable than the most recent ones you could throw at a toddler and not injure him/her.
bagnumberthree 1 year ago
@bagnumberthree I LOOOVE your measure of sturdiness.
jugglingembalmer 1 year ago
When does it come out?!! i want one!
glitchhacker101 1 year ago
Those magic times are gone!
VCR was liberty those days!
mig189189189 1 year ago
I'm sold.
lemonrind 1 year ago
laser disks
supressorgrid 1 year ago
Those kids are all grown up with teen kids by now! How times have changed.
Bless VCRs for letting us record all those shows that were neither on prerecorded VHS or DVD/Blu-ray yet. I still got me some VHS tapes and I'll keep em as long as my VCR/DVD combo lasts.
Hotshotter3000 2 years ago 7
I have one of those VCR, the VDT-501, and it's still working. But the sound is not verry loud.
PrincessTigerlili 2 years ago
I have a old RCA selectavision VCR model VFP170, does anyone have a DC 12 volt adaptor for it? I need it badly.
winerrs 2 years ago
at about 15, that was around the first time "copyright" bullshit was put in our face and treated us like animals. "record this movie, and we will come to your house and break your legs". that was how it was like. and that's still how it's like.
kargaroc386 2 years ago 9
@kargaroc386 its not funny because its true D:
CoolConejo 1 year ago
@kargaroc386 lol, thats fucking hilarious.
CoolConejo 11 months ago
Dang,look at that big honkin VCR! We''ve come a long way,baby
justme632 2 years ago
I'm actually watching this on the internet.
Gmancrap 2 years ago 3
i still record tv with this now i just use ondemand to vhs...
TONYE17 2 years ago
wasnt that blonde kid in the bad news bears?
SHMUJEW 2 years ago 2
I thought so too. . .
eugoldlareg 2 years ago
Man, RCA used the name "Selectavision" for everything.
MySegaSaturn 3 years ago 2
i have an old selectavision video disk player
bubbyboy192008 3 years ago
What actual tape format was this?
danielgosson 4 years ago
vhs
kascnef82 4 years ago
I thought selectavision was only the video disk.
Mr36O 3 years ago
me too
RobertC19850209 3 years ago
selectavision was used for Holotape (not released), then Magtape (also not released), then this, then the CED.
for more info go to
cedmagic com
Kargaroc286 3 years ago 2
SelectaVision was a name describing RCA's video projects in video tape and video disc. Holotape, Magtape, and CED.
I would guess that SelectaVision meant being able to select a vision, selecting video technology.
Only one format developed by RCA was released to market, and that was the CED VideoDisc system. VHS was, of course, licensed to RCA from JVC.
Watcher3223 3 years ago 2