The first Laserdisc Player

[MIPS]

I was looking at my stash of players last night and started to wonder what exactly was the first laserdisc player to hit the market. Google is oddly not giving a straight answer.

It states that the Magnavox Magnavision VH-8000 was the first consumer player available on the market starting in 1978. The second was apparently the Pioneer VP-1000.
The first industrial model player is the MCA DiscoVision PR-7820 and it too was marketed (in bulk quantity only) starting in 1978. The second was apparently the Pioneer LD-1100.

I cannot seem to find any information of any Laserdisc/DiscoVision players existing in the market before 1978, so was the 8000 and the 7820 both hitting the market at the same time or did one officially become available before the other and thus was "the first" laserdisc player?

[Telecolor 3007]

Good topic (thread). LaserDiscs are one of my passions.
"Magnavox" Magnavision VH-8000 was the 1st to hit the market. In fact it was Made in Holland and rebadged.
PR-7820 was made by "Pioneer" and sometimes rebadged. As far as I know it camed out in 1979.
The "Maganavox/Philips" where very bad players. "Pioneer" where good. "Pioneer" saved the format.
You can restore a PR-7820 to work. I wish me one... industrial looking, top loading, tube generated laser. You need to replace some rubber stuff. But I don't have the money for one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdVMUfNdJmI

[MIPS]

PR-7820 was made by "Pioneer" and sometimes rebadged. As far as I know it came out in 1979.

Hmm that conflicts with Wikipedia and this which implies that it was originally manufactured by MCA to their DiscoVision spec and later OEM'd by Pioneer with essentially the same model number (PR7820 became PR-7820) until they built their own product.

I have seen players with both badges but right now I might have a lead on an MCA DiscoVision branded unit that is within driving distance. Between that, some of my own memories and people constantly blabbing on about the 8000 being "the first", I was wondering exactly if that statement was true.

[Adam]

I picked up a Magnavox Magnavision VH-8000 right before I moved to AZ. It came with all the original owners manuals and stuff too (I'm not sure where I stashed that stuff when I moved though - It's probably in a box out in the garage somewhere.) I haven't had much time to work on anything since I moved, and I've prioritized my cars when I did manage a little time, so this has just been sitting - I haven't even tested it out at all. I'll try to post some pics later.

[Ed in Tx]

I recall the Magnavox VH-8000 came out exclusively either in Macy's or Bloomingdale's here in Dallas in Dec 1978. A few months later I, and another tech from the U.S.Pioneer Irving TX branch, got sent up to Pioneer HQ in Moonachie NJ over the St Patrick's Day weekend 1979 (over 40 years ago!) for a quickie 3-day cram course on the theory and servicing of the PR-7820 made by Pioneer obviously and sold front-badged as an "MCA DiscoVision" player I think. But the plate on the back with the serial number pretty sure it said Manufactured by Universal Pioneer or somesuch and Pioneer serviced them. I probably still have all the training material for the PR-7820 out in a Banker's Box full of other old stuff like that buried out in the garage.

Shortly after that, the 7820s started coming in for repairs sometimes by the pallet-load! We set up a clean room just to rebuild the laser optical assemblies.

Then in '82 I had moved on to an independent servicer who was authorized for Magnavox so I got all the VH-8000s.

Anyone remember the stand for those made of 4 pieces of wooden dowel attached to a piece of plank to set the 8000s on raised up and level so you could play the unit and get to the alignments on the bottom boards that would swing down?

[Telecolor 3007]

I asked on a facebook group and someone sayed that the "Magnavox" was the 1st one,
PR-7820 was a relaible machine?

[MIPS]

From what I am being told, the 7820 due to its commercial/industrial background was used extensively for disc QA, however because its build quality (and presumably price) was far higher than the VH-8000, there was a period of time where batches were failing int he field doe to the two players being the same spec, but the 7820 being better able to handle manufacturing defects.

Shortly after that, the 7820s started coming in for repairs sometimes by the pallet-load! We set up a clean room just to rebuild the laser optical assemblies.

I've heard this before as well that you are lucky to find a 7820 today that works. In each case though no reason is given for why the better built system is somehow the least reliable over time. While these units were typically seeing use 8 hours a day and five days a week in most instances for kiosks and I would not be surprised to find that the lasers are all worn out the only other thing I can factor is a serious need for preventative maintenance.