The first VCR was as large as a piano

The Ampex VR-1000, the first-ever successful VCR, was invented in 1956 and roughly the same size as a piano. While there is some dispute over whether the device actually counts as a VCR or not, since it did not use cassettes and rather used large reels of tape that had to be loaded by hand, there is no question that it was a large step in the right direction of home videos. Emphasis on the word LARGE, as it would not have fit in most living rooms when it was first invented.