VWestlifeMar 7
One odd thing about the 1985 Fisher FVH830 VCR I used in my Macrovision video: it has a "tape select" switch with positions marked "~T60" and "T80~". The manual just says to set it to the length of tape you're using, and gives no further explanation. I guess the squigglies are supposed to mean "T60 or shorter" and "T80 or longer", but who was using tapes that short, anyway? I thought T120 tape was already the norm long before then. And why would it matter?
Show threadJenny753

@vwestlife Looks like it's to set record time, but I dunno why.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114823554898?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item

Mar 7 at 4:15amWeb
Show threadprobnotMar 7

@jenny753 @vwestlife It looks like the switch is also on the FVH-839, and there's an ebay ad for the manual with more photos. https://www.ebay.com/itm/358090306173

It's used for the "Tape end indicator" light. So it's like a very basic version of a time remaining counter, but probably uses a similar method of comparing reel table speeds.