V-8700
Toshiba 1980
Betamax V-8700



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Overview

The Toshiba V-8600 / V-8700 claimed to be the first third generation VCR. The model consists of a V-8650 and a wireless VC-87 remote control. Compare this with the V-8600 which consists of a V-8650 and a wired VC-86 remote control.

It was the first model to use four video heads (compared to two heads as used by all models before). These four heads gave the VCR a superior "Super Still" pause mode, with virtually no noise on the picture, and an excellent slow speed "Super Slow Motion" playback mode and frame by frame advance, also with very little noise.

Other features were:

The VCR employed a belt driven mechanism and by later standards was very large and heavy.

This model appears to have been cloned by Emerson for their VE-1002 model.

VE-1002 Emerson
Emerson VE-1002


Many thanks to James Copp-Taylor for providing information and picture of this model
Thanks also to Stuart Bellfield for providing the photograph