It’s the end of an era as the last Japanese company to make VCRs says it will throw in the towel and stop manufacturing them by August. But also: Wait, people were still making VCRs? Things really do stick around.
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The last remaining VCR company isn’t a big name like Panasonic, which gave up years ago. It’s Funai Electric, which is having trouble getting the parts it needs and suffering from (shocker!) lower and lower sales. Funai once sold as many as 15 million a year, but it’s been all downhill from here, leading to sales of only 750,000 VCRs last year.
The days of the Betamax versus VHS technology feud are long over and VHS itself has been declining for years. Still, some stalwarts continue to buy the format, with the top tape being the Star Wars box set. VHS collecting is becoming strangely lucrative.
For cultural purposes, the Museum of Endangered sounds will ensure your kids will recognise the strange whirring of a VCR.