End of an era: last VCR rolling off production line in Japan
The clunky machines achieved mainstream popularity in the 1970s and 1980s but have long been eclipsed by other more advanced technologies
The world’s last videocassette recorder is set to roll off the factory line as a Japanese manufacturer ends production of the once booming home theatre technology.
Funai Electric, which says it is the world’s last VCR manufacturer, pointed to a sharp decline in demand and trouble sourcing parts for its decision to stop production at a plant in China by the end of this month.
In recent years, most of the consumer electronics firm’s VCRs were sold in North America, including under the Sanyo brand.
A company that was making parts for us said it was too tough to keep making them
The clunky machines entered into mainstream popularity in the 1970s and 1980s but have long been eclipsed by DVDs and other more advanced technologies.
Panasonic withdrew from the business several years ago, making Funai the last VCR maker standing, a company spokesman said.
Funai once had annual global sales of about 15 million VCRs, a number that shrunk to 750,000 globally last year, he added.
“A company that was making parts for us said it was too tough to keep making them with sales at this level so they stopped which led to our decision – we can’t make them without that part,” the spokesman said on Friday.