Sanyo 9300P
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The Sanyo 9300 was the first non-Sony Beta machine to be marketed, and came out at about the same time as the SL-8080. Although it shares the basic layout of the 8000 series, it looks much more like later home machines than the industrial U-Matics. The main operating keys stick right out of the bathtub-like case; this style, known as "piano key" became common in home machines even though it is uglier and more prone to accidental knocks than the inset keys of the U-Matic machines and their 8000 series derivatives.
A remote control unit was available for this machine, which was connected to it by a wire. Apparently this had a freeze-frame button, but unfortunately we don't have one so we can't comment on the still-picture quality. The 9300 was the first machine to have a proper remote, although many earlier machines had a simple remote pause capability to allow them to be stopped and started using the trigger on a camera.
This model was also the first to place all its controls and displays exclusively on the front surface of the case. This meant that it could be kept on a shelf, or under the TV, with other shelves etc above it - as long as there was enough room for the tape carriage to eject. This is an interesting echo of the future of VCR design, though we would have to wait for true front-loaders before it became important.
The tuner is described on the case as electronic, but still uses manual presets to set the stations - the electronic part was simply the touch-button selection of the pre-tuned stations. The timer allows events to be set up to three days in advance, or for "every day" recording. Only one recording could be set, however , and recording options were limited to 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or to the end of the tape. The (relative) sophistication of the timer was possible because of the use of a simple microprocessor - one of the earliest VCRs to use one, whereas today's machines contain several. (The first was the Grundig SVR 4004).
Internally, the layout is broadly similar to that of the 8000 series. A single motor is still used to drive everything except the head drum, via belts, and has the characteristic fan on top.
The lacing system is somewhat different from that of the 8000 series, and in fact was to become the standard loading system for almost all subsequent Betamax machines. The swinging, articulated loading arm has been replaced with guide pins mounted directly on the loading ring, which makes the system simpler. These keep the tape from fouling the drum, picking up the tape as they rotate, and are able to get behind the tape because the loading ring is at an angle to the cassette - to lead the tape past the heads at the required angle for helical scanning - so they come up from underneath as well as from behind. | ![]() |
Two oddities of these machines are a "waiting" light, which comes on while the machine is lacing or unlacing, and a circular, removable panel in the case directly above the head-drum, covering a grille. This has been observed on other early Betas, but we are not sure what it is for. It could be for increased ventilation, perhaps for use in hotter climates.
These machines are incredibly strong, and many are still working today. There seem to be two variants, one in black like this one, and one in silver - the silver one may be a later variant or upgraded model. This one was bought from a dealer in old video and Cine equipment, and is in perfect working order.
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