Just found a Sharp VHS from 1979

[Sandy G]

Yeah, that 1980 VCR was something like $1k back then...As I said, it weighed a TON, looked to be a SLIGHTLY downgraded industrial/commercial type machine. ..I took the top cover off of it, and it had a cast-aluminum chassis, & the parts all by & large, had that "Substantial" look to them that commercial stuff has. The 2nd VCR I got in '85 was a strereo/Hi-Fi model, but by then, they'd figgered out how to crank 'em out good 'n' cheap...It was maybe a fifth the size of the 1980 model, & was a real liteweight by comparison. It lasted til '90 or so, the one I got then was an el-cheapo that just recorded. No hi-fi, stereo, nada. Think I gave under $100 for it.