RENTAL UNITS

Not everyone that wanted to rent movies had a VCR to play them with. So an enterprising company in California approached Toshiba and Sanyo and had them manufacture specially designed rental portables that would only play. These VCPs (video cassette players) were modified portables that had had their record function disabled. Their cabinet color was blue to distinguish them from VCRs and each had it own enclosed power supply. This was so it would operate on ordinary household current. To make them simple to use instructions for set up and operation were boldly printed on the top. Most of these were housed in a protective blow molded case that was secure from tampering. A handle shaped into the case made for easy transportation. These VCPs were marketed solely to tape rental companies.