Spring 1978
The quest for home video
JVC's video trade price list
When JVC (UK) issued this price list in spring 1978, there were around 50,000 households with VCRs out of the 18m with television sets. Most were Philips N1500 VCRs. VHS had been launched by JVC a year earlier in Japan (20 March 1977) and then in June in the USA. These were, therefore, the first European prices. VAT was then 12½ per cent.
| |
|
trade |
RRSP |
| |
|
|
ex VAT |
inc VAT |
| HR3300 |
VHS |
£498.00 |
£710.00 |
£798.75 |
| GC3300 |
camera |
TBA |
TBA |
|
| VHS E30 |
½hr tape |
£4.50 |
£6.48 |
£7.29 |
| VHS E60 |
1hr tape |
£5.50 |
£7.87 |
£8.85 |
| VHS E120 |
2hr tape |
£7.80 |
£11.11 |
£12.50 |
| VHS E180 |
3hr tape |
£9.40 |
£13.43 |
£15.11 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 7170 |
14in TV |
£192.00 |
£275.08 |
£309.47 |
| 7575 |
18in TV |
£230.00 |
£329.00 |
£370.13 |
| 7875 |
20in TV |
£275.00 |
£391.00 |
£439.88 |
To put the prices into a contemporary context, they are re-calculated below at approximate 2001 prices. The price with VAT is calculated at the current rate of 17½ per cent.
| |
|
trade |
RRSP |
| |
|
|
ex VAT |
inc VAT |
| HR3300 |
VHS |
£1,206.42 |
£1,720 |
£2,021.00 |
| VHS E30 |
½hr tape |
£10.90 |
£15.70 |
£18.45 |
| VHS E60 |
1hr tape |
£13.32 |
£19.07 |
£22.40 |
| VHS E120 |
2hr tape |
£18.90 |
£26.91 |
£31.62 |
| VHS E180 |
3hr tape |
£22.77 |
£32.53 |
£38.23 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 7170 |
14in TV |
£465.13 |
£666.39 |
£783.01 |
| 7575 |
18in TV |
£557.18 |
£797.01 |
£936.49 |
| 7875 |
20in TV |
£666.20 |
£947.21 |
£1,112.97 |
As by 2001 it was possible to buy a VHS recorder for less than £70, the price had fallen by more than 96 per cent in the 23 years since the launch of the format.
Click here to see JVC's launch advertisement.
1978
The quest for home video
index
