Consumer electronics events, products, history & dates

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Dates are confirmed using a number of sources.

1926
Baird (UK) invents the first Television system in January 1926.
It used a mechanical optical scanning system.

1927
Fairclough (USA) invents the first fully electronic Television system in September 1927.
He developed the electron scanning system and the cathode ray tube.

1936
The start of television transmissions from Alexander Palace in London.

1937
First major electronic television outside broadcast: the Coronation of King George VI.
Nine thousand tv sets are sold in the London area.

1939-45
Television transmissions are suspended during the Second World War. An estimated
20,000 tv sets in Britain at this time. They resume in 1946 on the 7th June

1941
On the 23rd of December 1941 "Baird" gives first demonstration of 600-line electronic
stereoscopic television in colour.

1944
The world first electronic computer -"Colossus". Design started in March 1943 and the first unit was
operational at Bletchley Park (50 miles to the North West of London) in Jan 1944.
The switches consisted of a large number of thermionic valves (tubes.)
It was used to crack the German codes in the last two years of the Second World War.

1956
The 2 inch reel to reel video system was introduced. The first commercially sold machines
were the Ampex VR-1000 and the RCA TRT-1A. Both used the same agreed upon
format - the 2" Quadruplex system. The format utilized 2 inch wide tape loaded on a
monstrous 4800 ft reel.

1958
Videotape recording starts in Britain. Prior to this date the only way to record programmes
was to use film. This was called "telerecording".

1962?
1 inch Machtronics reel to reel video system introduced.

1962
On the 11th of July 1962 is the first transatlantic satellite link via the "Telstar" satellite.

1963
Philips demonstrated the first compact audio cassette using high-quality
BASF polyester 1/8-inch tape that ran at 1-7/8 ips

1963
Ampex introduce the first domestic reel to reel video and TV combined unit weighing
900 pounds and costing $30,000 in a wood cabinet 13 feet long! It used 1 inch tape.
It was available from a retail catalogue.

1964
The Philips EL3400MK was the first stand-alone, 1 inch tape, domestic video recorder.

1965
Sony claim the first video tape recorder for home use was their CV-2000
including the CV-2000D, the TCV-2010 and the TCV-2020. Only about 200 were sold in 1965.

1967
Colour TV started in 1967 (using the PAL system) with BBC2 and extended to BBC1 and ITV in 1969
but it was into the mid 70s before colour sets were more widely found in the home.

1967
Sony introduces the world's first portable VTR (1/2 inch reel to reel), the DV-2400. It was available
with a camera and power supply. It was followed a couple years later by the popular DV-3600.

1968
The first really domestic reel to reel video recorder for the home was arguably the Philips LDL 1002
It used 1/2 inch tape. It had a similar size and weight to an average audio reel to reel recorder.
It was in a domestic wood enclosure and was marketed for the home in the Philips marketing leaflets.

1969
Four host computers were connected together into the initial "ARPANET" and the Internet was born

1969
Akai introduce the 1/4" format reel to reel recording system with the VT-100 & Vt-110 VTR'S

1970?
3/4 inch reel to reel video system introduced.

1971
Sony introduce the U-MATIC video recording system using 3/4 inch tape cassettes.
The units were the VP-1000 player and the VO-1600 VCR. The VO-1600 was the worlds first VCR.

1972
Philips introduced the worlds first video cassette recorder for use in the home.
The N1500 colour VCR has an analogue clock - timer and embedded TV tuner. Price £442 weight 17 Kg.

1973
Philips introduced the N1501 colour VCR. A face-lifted N1500 with improved colour circuitry and still frame.
Still with an analogue clock, looked almost the same but black sides instead of wood finish.
Possibly even less made than the N1500. Very rare.

1975
Sony introduce the first popular video recording system. The Betamax SL-6300, and in 1976 the SL-7200
and SL-7200A The first Betamax
unit to be introduced into the United States was the SL 7200 and SL-7200A in 1976.
This reached the UK in 1978

1975
Philips introduce the N1502 colour video cassette recorder. Price £649 weight 18 Kg. Digital clock.

1976
JVC introduce VHS, to become the world's most popular video recording systems. The JVC HR-3300 is the
first VHS recorder. A number of companies clone it under their own brand names including Ferguson and
Baird in the UK. The Former was called the Ferguson Videostar 3V01

1976
Panasonic introduce VHS, to become the world's most popular video recording systems.
The Panasonic NV 8610 is the first VHS recorder. Of course JVC and Panasonic are the same
company - MATSUSHITA! The Panasonic is better built and has a better picture. Compared to the JVC
(which was produced in very large quantities), the Panasonic is quite rare.

1977
Philips introduced the N1700 colour video cassette recorder.
The long-play version of the original Philips N1500 series. Digital clock.

1977
Sony introduce the SL-8200. This was the first Betamax to have two recording speeds.
The new 1/2 speed capability provided 2 hours recording time on the new L-500 Beta videocassette.

1977
The worlds first "real" desktop computer. The Commodore PET. Mainly used in schools and colleges.

1978
The Panasonic NV 8600.
VHS recorder reached the UK at the same time as the JVC HR-3300.
They both became available in December 1978, and must therefore
share the distinction of being the first UK VHS decks.

1978
JVC introduce the first portable VHS recorder. The JVC HR-4100 EG

1978
Sony introduce "Betamax 2" (half the speed)

1979
The introduction of the double speed VHS system

1980
The worlds first domestic computer Priced under $200.00 appeared in 1980. The Sinclair ZX-80.

1980
The first compact video cassette system. The Technicolor 212E. This little known CVC system used
1/4 inch tape in a small cassette format. It was 4 years before VHS C and 5 years before Video 8.

1981
The first computer to be priced under $100.00 appeared in 1981. The Sinclair ZX-81.

1981 (or 1978?)
Philips introduced the Video 2000 video system

1981
IBM launch of the industry standard personal computer. The IBM 5150.

1982
Philips launch the first Laservision player in the UK, the VLP 700.

1983
Grunding introduced the reversible version of the Video 2000, the 2x8

1983
The worlds first hand portable cell phone. The Motorola 8000x at 28 oz. The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X
phone became the first FCC-approved portable cellular telephone in 1983. Price $3,995
The UK model was the 8500.

1982?
Sony introduced the full size Betamax camcorder. The Sony BMC100P 1983/1984.
The first unit to have the video recorder and camera in one unit.

1984
JVC introduce the first compact (VHS-C) version of the VHS system and the GR-C1. VHS-C camcorder.

1985
Sony introduced the final Super-Beta system

1985
A group of manufacturers started to produce the agreed video standard called Video 8

1985
The first book sized 8mm video camera. The Sony CCD-M8

1986
JVC follow the GR-C1 with the GR-C7. In 1986 it is the world's smallest and lightest VHS-C video camcorder.

1987
JVC Introduced the HR-S7000, the world's first S-VHS video recorder

1988
Panasonic claim they introduced the SVHS recording system in 1988 but the
parent company own Panasonic and JVC!

1994
The first GSM cell phone was introduced by Nokia. The first manufacturer to launch
a series of hand-portable phones for all digital standards (GSM, TDMA, PCN, Japan Digital).