This machine is not equipped with a tuner or timer, so it cannot record TV broadcasts without additional equipment. It was almost certainly made for mastering or duplicating pre-recorded tapes in a factory or studio. One feature that suggests this is the absence of the switch that detects the 'write-protect' hole on cassettes. This deck will record onto pre-recorded tapes regardless.
This deck is top-loading at a time when most home decks were front-loaders. The VCR has Stereo sound, both in hi-fi and conventional (linear) mode. BNR (Beta Noise Reduction) circuitry is included and can be switched on or off as desired. Two VU meters are clearly visible on the front right-hand side of the machine; they are illuminated when the power is on.
This machine has features not found on consumer VCRs. Just below the left VU meter is an hours meter - a glass tube full of mercury. RF inputs and outputs (straight from the heads - not like those for TV antenna hookup) are fitted, as well as separate audio outputs for the hi-fi sound.
Another very unusual and useful feature is High Speed rewind / fast forward. When pressed, the tape is unlaced from the heads and wound at high speed until it nearly reaches the end, when it is taken up again and travels more slowly until the foil end-of-tape marker. The tape must have been played (or recorded?) for about 10-20 seconds first in order to activate this feature. Some Sanyo Betacord models unthread the tape before rewinding but they were often plagued by tape-chewing problems. This machine is very slick and gives exxcellent performance.