View Full Version : Citizen 5" color VHS Combo unit.


Eric H
06-24-2017, 03:41 PM
Picked this up today, it's a VHS player with a 5" Color TV built in. Dated 1986.
It has L&R audio outputs but I believe it's Linear Stereo rather than Hi-Fi.

Other than some fogging on the screen cover where it's been rubbing against the case it's nearly mint.

It needs some work, it accepts a tape and a nice color still image comes on the screen for a second then it shuts down, no doubt a bad belt or some hardened grease keeping the pinch roller from engaging.

It's "Portable" in the same way the TV's of the 50's were portable, it has a handle, but at 23 lbs even carrying it with the shoulder strap becomes painful rather quickly. :yes:

Eric H
06-24-2017, 04:10 PM
Opened it up and had a look, it just took a nudge of the idler tire to get it started, the capstan was stuck apparently, the belt might be a bit stretched too but it's been playing okay since then.

There's a bit of head switching noise in the sound, I'm letting it run to see if it improves, it probably hasn't been used in a decade or more.

There's a Hitachi logo on the CRT, possibly the whole thing was made by them?

Eric H
06-24-2017, 08:29 PM
Moved here because it is AC/DC, while it doesn't have it's own battery compartment, it will run on 12 volts DC.

old_tv_nut
06-24-2017, 09:32 PM
"Head switching noise in the sound" - does that mean it IS Hi-Fi?

Also, is there a tuner?

Eric H
06-24-2017, 11:01 PM
There are no markings on it to indicate it's Hi-Fi.

There is no tuner or even a Display, it has a Yellow, Red and White RCA jacks on the back, I am assuming they are outputs.

Apparently the only thing you can do with it is watch movies, there's not even a record function, it was probably marketed to the Motor Home crowd since it will operate on 12 volts.

I read online it was a low end portable unit in 1987, it "only" cost $600 where the better portables were $1200.

Model number is: VCP-5MU

I posted a short video of the noise on YouTube, the noise in the picture is that particular tape, another tape played fine except it also had the whine in the audio. It's not so bad as to be unusable, there's a Tone control and if you turn down the Treble it's less noticeable.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1jO8XqWuELLZGhSM96vn5g

old_tv_nut
06-24-2017, 11:15 PM
... the noise in the picture is that particular tape, another tape played fine
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1jO8XqWuELLZGhSM96vn5g

Looks like it totally ignored the control track on that one tape.

dishdude
06-24-2017, 11:22 PM
It's probably a Goldstar made unit.

Sandy G
06-25-2017, 12:03 AM
Me LIKEY ! I had a similar unit in '82, it was 4.5" color set, AM/FM, audiocassette. Buddy of mine & I would take it up to the town dump, which way way high on this bluff overlooking a river. L'il guy was INCREDIBLY sensitive, I picked up TV stations from all over the region. Prettiest place in town, & the locals HAD to put a Dump there..

centralradio
06-25-2017, 12:30 AM
Wow.Nice set.I have a Sanyo boombox with a 5 inch color tv along with am/fm cassette.It probably was made around the same time as the OP set.

This set reminds me of the Technicolor format TV/VCR combo with came out around the same time.

Hers some info on the Citizen .

https://books.google.com/books?id=3AAAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=VCP-5MU&source=bl&ots=l_qsQCT-xi&sig=-QrITcQ9Kb0KySZ1MJUJwYKPyy4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivu9C9odjUAhWI7yYKHaibDLYQ6AEIPjAF#v=on epage&q=VCP-5MU&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=e-MDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=VCP-5MU&source=bl&ots=HBW8euK4Hc&sig=R4S0sYp-C990Wuf6Ldu6EOZ52ow&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivu9C9odjUAhWI7yYKHaibDLYQ6AEILzAC#v=on epage&q=VCP-5MU&f=false

Findm-Keepm
06-25-2017, 04:45 PM
There's a Hitachi logo on the CRT, possibly the whole thing was made by them?

I was gonna ask what the UL number was, but if it's 12V only, probably no UL listing.

www.nesda.com/members/ul.pdf

Cheers,

Eric H
06-25-2017, 05:06 PM
It runs on AC also, not home at the moment so I can't check that number.

Ed in Tx
06-25-2017, 05:24 PM
I was gonna ask what the UL number was, but if it's 12V only, probably no UL listing.

www.nesda.com/members/ul.pdf

Cheers,

I used to have an FCC ID number cross reference list hanging on the wall at work, that with the first 3 letters and/or numbers you could find out the OEM. I can't find a list like that now. It might have been something NESDA put out. My old boss was active with NESDA.

zeno
06-26-2017, 02:42 PM
FCC ID numbers were on FCC.gov We used to use it for
monitors. Gave original brand & model number. Used it
to get manuals for all the odd-ball names.
The TV chassis has a Korean look to it. Gold Star is the
prime suspect.

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

lnx64
06-27-2017, 07:42 AM
How many heads does the drum have?

Celt
06-27-2017, 08:53 AM
Hastings used to rent out units like that along with VHS only players...back in the day when they did VHS rentals.

waltchan
03-29-2020, 01:53 AM
I just ordered this new, open-box Citizen VCP-5MU on eBay last week for about $65 shipped. It was assembled by Japan CBM corporation (parent of Citizen Japan), with Hitachi 5" CRT screen, plus Akai VHS mechanism chassis. This Akai mechanism uses a unique nylon-tooth polystyrene loading belt, so it never needs replacing. It does use two flywheel capstan belts. Only two belts total. It plays only in SP mode.

http://studiosoundelectronics.com/mbk-19.htm

I would rate this Citizen 5" VCP monitor more-reliable than Hitachi's own version of it with the dreaded 6-belt mechanism chassis, so it's worth repairing the Akai mechanism with new belts and new tire. In addition, Consumer Reports would also rate Akai VCRs more-reliable than Hitachi too from 1992 survey, based on 1987 median-age models, if there ever was a rating for Akai.

Have you ever seen this Akai VCR mechanism before for service?

waltchan
03-29-2020, 01:59 AM
How many heads does the drum have?

This one is 2-head mono.

waltchan
03-29-2020, 01:59 AM
It's probably a Goldstar made unit.

It's made in Japan, so you know it's not made by Goldstar. :yes:

colorfixer
04-24-2020, 01:17 AM
These were made by Shinjyo General or later Funai in Japan. The name Citizen on these has nothing to do with the Citizen Watch Co., it's a name that was owned by Jutan International in Canada.

They were also branding under "Concerto" (Goldstar) and "Juliette" (multiple manufacturers).