<P> Most domestic VCRs are equipped with a television broadcast receiver (tuner) for TV reception, and a programmable clock (timer) for unattended recording of a television channel from a start time to an end time specified by the user . These features began as simple mechanical counter-based single - event timers, but were later replaced by more flexible multiple - event digital clock timers . In later models the multiple timer events could be programmed through a menu interface displayed on the playback TV screen ("on - screen display" or OSD). This feature allowed several programs to be recorded at different times without further user intervention, and became a major selling point . </P> <P> The history of the videocassette recorder follows the history of videotape recording in general . In 1953, Dr. Norikazu Sawazaki developed a prototype helical scan video tape recorder . </P> <P> Ampex introduced the Quadruplex videotape professional broadcast standard format with its Ampex VRX - 1000 in 1956 . It became the world's first commercially successful videotape recorder using two - inch (5.1 cm) wide tape . Due to its high price of US $50,000, the Ampex VRX - 1000 could be afforded only by the television networks and the largest individual stations . </P> <P> In 1959, Toshiba introduced a "new" method of recording known as helical scan, releasing the first commercial helical scan video tape recorder that year . It was first implemented in reel - to - reel videotape recorders (VTRs), and later used with cassette tapes . </P>

When did the first video recorder come out