First Laptop Ever? Vintage Rare Hitachi VT-LC50A Portable VHS VCR with LCD screen

Just brought home this sweet find and this video is the first test play. One man's trash is truly another man's treasure.

[@jet3529]

this Portable VHS VCR player with LCD Screen is cool

[@glaz6733]

I remember we used to have this, and brought it with us, so we kids are occupied while my dad drive. Glad I actually found this video, thought nobody would upload/have it anymore these days. Niceeeee

[@nawaityengineer8997]

I need like this portable TV+VCR combo

[@giuseppelavecchia775]

Adoro il VHS,amico hai preso un videoregistratore portatile fantastico,ottimo hitachi!!

[@mrmagnetoscope]

Never seen this before, this is very cool. It has the same VCR mechanism as my Hitachi VHS camcorder.

[@jkmac625]

This looks identical to the one I've got but mine isn't Hi-Fi Stereo it's just mono linear audio but it has the additional feature of being multi-standard and can play tapes in PAL, SECAM or NTSC. It came in handy when there was a mains power outage as you could still record a show you didn't want to miss! The battery didn't last long so don't think it could record for more than about an hour on a full charge.

[@chriscarr422]

Thats so cool! I haven't tried playing a PAL in mine but now I definitely will have to! I have a multi-standard standalone VCR which I love. It's cool how there is different cover art on the boxes from country to country. Am I correct in understanding yours would recieve TV signals? That is so cool! Such an amazing little device and still working almost 40 years on!

[@jkmac625]

Yes it has a built in tuner and single event timer with a CR2023 (or similar) 3v lithium coin cell to keep the clock bit going. It's only a 2 head so it's SP pictures aren't as good as they could be. It has a switch to select PAL/SECAM/NTSC modes. It came with a strange adaptor cable for SECAM reception for use in France I think, but never had any SECAM tapes to test it with.

[@MrDuncl]

Seeing better pictures of a New Old Stock of these on Ebay is is actually labelled LAPTOP AV. I wondered where you had got the idea that it was a Laptop. Seems like it was Hitachi themselves.

[@chriscarr422]

I was just making a play on words, but it was one of the first LCD screens available to consumers

[@MrDuncl]

Thanks for posting. I remember seeing this model in a High End department store probably in the early 1990s.. It was extremely expensive ; about £1300 probably because of the LCD screen which was cutting edge technology back then. You could have bought a very nice VCR and a very nice CRT Colour TV for less money back then.

[@Skeeballman64]

He said LCD.

[@MrDuncl]

@@Skeeballman64 That is also what I said. LCD = very expensive new technology. CRT = cheap tried and tested mass produced technology. My first laptop came with a leaflet offering you an optional insurance policy against screen damage with an explanation that it would be very expensive to replace.

[@jarekjagielski366]

Wow, that's some fascinating piece of kit, thanks for posting this!

[@lifeisgood5100]

M first machine!!!one of the best i ever had

[@damiangolfinopoulos9164]

I scored one yesterday with a working battery! Everything unopened from original packaging...but the EJECT is stuck!!!

[@chriscarr422]

That's badass! You definitely have to post a vid. If you hear a noise when you press eject, you might be able to pry it open with a credit card or something like that. Congrats on the find!

[@ivanhibben2011]

Never seen this before but I want one now :)

[@chriscarr422]

Ivan Hibben Me either. Just popped up on craigslist and I had to have it!

[@chrisb.8751]

Ivan Hibben i have two of these,one from Hitachi and the Other from SABA ,a Brand from Germany

[@user-zo9dc1lu3q]

I LOVE it !!! :-D

[@aNHeLL4982]

CoOl

[@djrocker1007]

Very cool! I have had one of those for many years but never tried to power it up. what type of power supply does it take? If you don't mind me asking, where did you find it and how much was it? Thanks for sharing!

[@chriscarr422]

Hey man! It is pretty cool. It can be a little fussy with different tapes but works pretty well. If you look up "hitachi vm ac61a" on ebay, the exact power supply pops up. That is also the battery charger. My battery is shot and I will eventually get a refurbished one. This was a craigslist score. I had to drive 100 miles but it was only $20! A really cool find out in the wild. Good luck getting yours to play vids! Peace

[@djrocker1007]

@@chriscarr422 Thank you Sir!!

[@PatriciaCross]

Want one?

[@lifeisgood5100]

yes

[@ejazahmad1698]

cute

[@MuoDev]

Its not working, i have to keep it on charge first ???then i open it

[@chriscarr422]

My battery is dead so I have to plug it into the wall to work. I may get the battery refurbished. There are some online services that will do that

[@SEGERTRON]

i have one... but I cant play tv on it!!

[@chriscarr422]

Does the screen work at all?

[@SEGERTRON]

@@chriscarr422 yes it work ok, to see video cassettes. But I don't know how put it on TV mode.

[@Megamon0001]

So you’re telling me they made the first laptop and self pleasure “”massagers””?