The first Laserdisc Player

[Ed in Tx]

I recall the Magnavox VH-8000 came out exclusively either in Macy's or Bloomingdale's here in Dallas in Dec 1978. A few months later I, and another tech from the U.S.Pioneer Irving TX branch, got sent up to Pioneer HQ in Moonachie NJ over the St Patrick's Day weekend 1979 (over 40 years ago!) for a quickie 3-day cram course on the theory and servicing of the PR-7820 made by Pioneer obviously and sold front-badged as an "MCA DiscoVision" player I think. But the plate on the back with the serial number pretty sure it said Manufactured by Universal Pioneer or somesuch and Pioneer serviced them. I probably still have all the training material for the PR-7820 out in a Banker's Box full of other old stuff like that buried out in the garage.

Shortly after that, the 7820s started coming in for repairs sometimes by the pallet-load! We set up a clean room just to rebuild the laser optical assemblies.

Then in '82 I had moved on to an independent servicer who was authorized for Magnavox so I got all the VH-8000s.

Anyone remember the stand for those made of 4 pieces of wooden dowel attached to a piece of plank to set the 8000s on raised up and level so you could play the unit and get to the alignments on the bottom boards that would swing down?