RCA SelectaVision VBT200 VHS Recorder & Magnetic Video "M*A*S*H" VHS (1977-1978)

RCA VBT200 

🥇First VHS VCR Released in the United States 

The RCA VBT200, manufactured by Matsushita and rebranded for the U.S. market in October 1977, was the first VHS videocassette recorder available to American consumers. Marketed under the "SelectaVision" brand with the memorable slogan "Four hours, $1,000, SelectaVision," it was RCA's strategic counterstrike against Sony’s Betamax, which at the time could only record for two hours. The VBT200 was a massive, top-loading machine featuring heavy "piano key" controls, a built-in mechanical timer, and a wired remote that provided a single function: pause. Despite its hefty price tag and a weight of nearly 40 pounds, it was a massive success, outselling Sony's offerings and establishing VHS as the dominant format in the burgeoning home video market before being phased out in late 1978 for lighter, more feature-rich models.

Curator’s Note: This RCA SelectaVision VBT200 stands as a primary artifact of the home video revolution. Manufactured in August 1977—as verified by the serial plate—this unit originates from the definitive first month of VHS production for the United States market. Given its production date, this VBT200 is likely a "Launch Day" unit from the initial October 1977 retail release. As the first VHS recorder ever sold in America, the VBT200 ended the era of "appointment viewing" and established the technical foundation for the global home video industry.

Source: eBay.com 

"M*A*S*H" VHS by Magnetic Video

🥇One of the First 50 Movie Titles Released on Home Video 

The MASH* feature film was one of the first 50 titles ever released for home video, appearing on VHS and Betamax in November 1977 after a historic $300,000 licensing deal between Magnetic Video Corporation and 20th Century Fox. By 1978, these tapes became some of the industry's very first "bestsellers," retailing for a premium price of roughly $50.00 each (over $200 today). These early pressings are instantly recognizable to collectors by their large, sturdy cardboard "clamshell" boxes featuring a simple black-and-white still from the movie, and they cut straight from the scrolling studio logo to the film without any modern anti-piracy warnings. Because this release was the only major source for Hollywood movies at the time, it effectively proved that consumers were willing to pay for the privilege of owning a film, paving the way for the video rental boom that would define home entertainment for the next two decades.

Acquired from: eBay.com