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Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxk!rs55611
From: rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo,net.video
Subject: Re: vcr
Message-ID: <529@ihuxk.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Jan-84 13:45:26 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxk.529
Posted: Tue Jan 17 13:45:26 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Jan-84 07:27:54 EST
References: <234@hou2a.UUCP> <196@pyuxnn.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 27

Yes, GE's, Panasonic's and Quasar's (as well as some others, such as
Philco, and maybe Sylvania) are all built by Matsushita.  Matsushita
owns Quasar outright, and builds under license for the others.  The
basic deck mechanism and features are all the same, but there are
occasional performance differences in some features, and the different
models in each company's product line may add various features at slightly
different levels.  However, the video performance will be identical across
equivalent models.  By the way, Matsushita is the leader in VCR manufacture,
in terms of units sold.  Other American brands are also built by
the other three big Japanese outfits.  I believe that RCA's are now built
by Hitachi, Fisher's by Mitsubishi, etc.  Most American Beta format VCRs
are now built by Sanyo, although Sony may make tnem for other companies, as well
As far as I know, the only companies building VCRs are
Sony, Toshiba, Sanyo  (Beta, under licensing agreements with Sony)
JVC, Matsushita, Hitachi, Mitsubishi (VHS)

Of these, Matsushita doesn't sell under its own name, Matsushita of America
uses the Quasar brand name.

(I'm neglecting to mention Philips, who make VCRs under a different format
that is only popular in Europe.)

Bob Schleicher
ihuxk!rs55611
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, Ill.

(There may be a minor error in all this, so don't quote me!)