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The last videocassette recorder (VCR) in Japan will be produced by the end of the month, according to the Nikkei newspaper.

Funai Electric has been producing VHS-playing VCRs for 33 years, most recently in China for Sanyo.

But last year it sold just 750,000 units, down from a peak of 15 million a year, and has been finding it difficult to source the necessary parts.

VCRs were introduced in the 1970s but were superseded by DVD technology.

Last year, Sony announced it would stop selling Betamax video cassettes - a rival to the VHS. VCRs were required to play or record such tapes.

It was 12 years ago that UK High Street retailer Dixons decided to phase out the sale of VCRs due to the popularity of DVD players.

'Niche market'

Some vintage technologies - such as vinyl - have enjoyed a renaissance.

However, Tania Loeffler, an analyst at IHS Technology, does not think the same nostalgia will ever be felt for VCR-playable formats.

"I don't see VCR becoming like vinyl, where a lot of people appreciated the warmness of how something sounds on vinyl," she told the BBC.

"The quality on VHS is not something I think anyone would want to go back to."

However, she added that a niche market for accessing VHS content, perhaps for archival purposes, would probably mourn the loss of VCRs if they became unavailable.

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I couldnt believe this when i read it that any were still made, or that sony still made beta tapes until last year. I'll probably read tomorrow that Ford has stopped production of the Cortina.

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13 minutes ago, Paul71 said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36857370

The last videocassette recorder (VCR) in Japan will be produced by the end of the month, according to the Nikkei newspaper.

Funai Electric has been producing VHS-playing VCRs for 33 years, most recently in China for Sanyo.

But last year it sold just 750,000 units, down from a peak of 15 million a year, and has been finding it difficult to source the necessary parts.

VCRs were introduced in the 1970s but were superseded by DVD technology.

Last year, Sony announced it would stop selling Betamax video cassettes - a rival to the VHS. VCRs were required to play or record such tapes.

It was 12 years ago that UK High Street retailer Dixons decided to phase out the sale of VCRs due to the popularity of DVD players.

'Niche market'

Some vintage technologies - such as vinyl - have enjoyed a renaissance.

However, Tania Loeffler, an analyst at IHS Technology, does not think the same nostalgia will ever be felt for VCR-playable formats.

"I don't see VCR becoming like vinyl, where a lot of people appreciated the warmness of how something sounds on vinyl," she told the BBC.

"The quality on VHS is not something I think anyone would want to go back to."

However, she added that a niche market for accessing VHS content, perhaps for archival purposes, would probably mourn the loss of VCRs if they became unavailable.

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I couldnt believe this when i read it that any were still made, or that sony still made beta tapes until last year. I'll probably read tomorrow that Ford has stopped production of the Cortina.

Vauxhall viva is still being made though mate. ?

Vinyl definately has it's own appeal. Can't see the same with VHS.

11 minutes ago, Boycie said:

Vauxhall viva is still being made though mate. ?

never been so underwhelmed as when I saw the 'new' Viva. It has nothing in common with the old one.

I thought it died when I threw out from the shed the all in one TV and VHS into the skip last week.

i miss the days when it chewed them up and refused to spit them out , ah well , Memorexes ..

"Re-record, not fade away....."

The joys of recording 2 films...yes 2 films on one tape (longplay)!

On 22/07/2016 at 09:09, mozza said:

i miss the days when it chewed them up and refused to spit them out , ah well , Memorexes ..

Ones favourite adult film fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...........!!!!!!

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