I worked for Rediffusion (Redihire) Ltd back in the day. First as the Saturday van boy then full-time van boy & finally the driver/installer. Putting in the new TV's, collecting them for repair then returning them, that kind of thing. When video's came out we used to tell people that Betamax would eventually overtake VHS. As said, how wrong we were but it was the accepted wisdom at the time.

Great info. My parents originally bought their first VCR a Sony C7 Betamax in 1981 after seeing their friends one and watching back the Royal Wedding on it.

Then we were burgled and the Beta was taken, so we rented after that from Rediffusion in Hampton Hill. We started with another Sony C7 then upgraded to a front loading stereo C9 which we ended up buying off them a few years later. Great machine that, and I have a fully refurbished one in my collection now.

I was in the N.E London branch so you were a little out of my area. As l remember we only got as far as the C5 & C7 before Granada bought the Redihire arm of the company up & l took redundancy. VHS-wise we had the Ferguson 3V23 as the flagship model, the first front-loader as l recall.
Ah, halcyon days. In the last few years l had my own company Transit & a bit of a reputation amongst the showroom girls to boot. ;) :D
I bought my P5B Saloon with the last of my payout & l still have her though the showroon girl l was living with at the time is elsewhere now.