Maker ends production for VCRs

TOKYO — Japanese electronics maker Funai Electric Co. says it’s yanking the plug on the world’s last video cassette recorder.

A company spokesman, who requested anonymity citing company practice, confirmed Monday that production will end sometime this month, although he would not give a date.

He said the company would like to continue production to meet customer requests, but can’t because key component makers are pulling out due to shrinking demand for VCRs.

Many families and libraries have content stored in the VHS format and want to convert the tapes to DVD or other digital disks.

They can do so using VHS/DVD converters. Funai will be rolling out such products later this month, the spokesman said.

Funai began making videotape players in 1983, and videotape recorders in 1985. The company says they were among its alltime hit products.

Last year, Funai made 750,000 VHS machines that played or recorded cassette tapes. In 2000, it made 15 million, 70 percent for the U.S. market, according to the company.

Many VCR owners want to dub their videos on their own, rather than sending them to outside companies, because the content is so personal, said Nobuyuki Norimatsu, nicknamed “Aibo doctor,” of A-Fun, a company of engineers who do repairs for discontinued electronics goods.

“To give up on keeping such records is like denying the history of humankind,” he added.

Panasonic Corp. withdrew from making VCRs several years ago, making Funai the only manufacturer.