I currently own a Mitsubishi HS-300U VCR from 1981. It's really heavy and built like a tank. It still works well after 30 years, although one day I need to open it up and do a little TLC.

I don't have a picture of it (it's at home, a long way from here), but the video below has the same model. Surprisingly there was zero info anywhere about this VCR, except for the Youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH4xylRiBng

Not shown is the optional brick-sized remote and its receiver, which plugs into the back of the VCR and has a few feet of cable so you can position it for best reception. Mine came with both, which I guess is a rare find.

It's a great setup and goes well with my Zenith TV of about the same vintage - also working great, despite my Grandma using it daily for 25 years.


What is the oldest VCR you have? I have yet to find anything that predates this beast.


-Tim

I worked on those when they were current. Not fun to work on! Talk about a rats nest of wires! They have 5 motors: Two reel motors, a loading motor, capstan motor and head cylinder motor. I remember the remote unit that went with those too. Probably some pieces of one in a box at the old shop I worked at.

My oldest VCR is a 77' Zenith jr-9000w two speed Betamax top loader with orig dust cover (the handle on the speed switch was broke off though), bought it at the ARCI donation auction for a whopping 1$. After lubing a stuck (still not too good) motor I was able to get monochrome video with red blue and purple noise which soon disapeared and left me with just mono video and audio .:sigh: I'll start a resotration thread after I finish some projects I have going.

My oldest VTR is either a circa 1975 Sony AV-5000A or a Concord (can't remember the model #) both use the EAIJ reel to reel monochrome video recording standard (hence Video Tape Recorder VTR instead of Video Cassette Recorder VCR), though the Sony has non-standard color capabilities(if you are curious check out this link labguysworld.com/Sony_AV-5000A.htm (http://labguysworld.com/Sony_AV-5000A.htm).

Got some other vintage decks, but I think I'll limit it to the oldest.

Tom C.

I have a 1979 Sharp, bought it recently for cheap just because it's big and old.

My oldest video recorder is a 1967 Sony CV-2100CE 1/2" CV format reel-reel videotape recorder http://www.troysvintagevideo.741.com/cv2100.html . I rescued it from a local scrap metal/vintage electronics recycle centre and it is cosmetically in great shape and powers up and functions well mechanically, once tried to record a picture on it but got no picture playback so I guess it's probably not fully functional. I also have a spare video head for it as well.

I own a 1976 Sony model LV-1901, combination one-hour Betamax VCR and 19" color TV.

I've still got my old Pana-built Quasar that a customer declined an estimate on in the 90's. His loss. :yes:

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii110/blasttapes/20080728-5220QuasarVH5100QWVCR.jpg

I have a 1979 Sharp, bought it recently for cheap just because it's big and old.
I believe it's the Sharp VC-6800 you mentioned earlier. This one was also the oldest VCR I used to own. Sold it for $330 shipped 4 years ago.

I've still got my old Pana-built Quasar that a customer declined an estimate on in the 90's. His loss. :yes:
His loss, yes, but 90s VCR had already reached $150, and he thought that a 16 year old VCR reached the end of lifespan (not really for this one).

Sanyo's first Betacord. Knob tuner, BII only, drum servo only (brake), circa 1976, almost entirely discrete components.

At the time, only Beta with built-in electronic/LED clock. Sony's were the mechanical flip-clocks like their clock radios, an accessory that sat on top. Sold in 1981.

The oldest VCR I ever owned was a 1984 top loading JVC with big multi-colored buttons on the front. I got it in 2005. It had several blown fuses in it when I got it. I replaced the fuses but I only got it to play once. Threw it out.:sigh:

My oldest VCR (now long gone, heads failed in 1990) was a 1984 GE top-loading VHS machine built by Panasonic. It had 12-position tuning (thumbwheel-tuned 83-channel electronic tuning system), three speeds, wired remote, and it worked quite well for me the six years I owned it. I'd have kept it a bit longer if not for the fact that a local TV shop gave me a $250 estimate to repair it. :no:

the oldest vcr I ever had was an RCA Selectavision VBT 200 VHS. Hand me down when my father replaced it with one with a Selectavision 650. One of the first with a wireless remote. The 200 Is long gone. but still have several tapes that were recorded on it. Including a 1977 Elvis Concert with 1970's Commercials. Had only 2 Speeds SP and LP would not play SLPor EP tapes. Tank of a unit.

Still have my JVC HR-3300, the very first VHS deck from 1977. It has full width [59 Micron] video heads and still works fine.
Cliff

Oldest deck I ever owned was a Panasonic PV-1200 that my folks bought from Sears in 1980. I had it up to 2004 and it still played fine. Needed to downsize so I gave it away. I wish I still had it.

I rescued a Sony SL-8600 betamax at the shop I worked in 1985. It cost nearly $1200 in 1979. First unit with digital clock. Timer recording had only a start time and ran the X-2 speed only, had knob tuners and a wired remote pause. I got about 5 good years out of it. Worn mechanicals caused speed errors (noise) so I junked it in 2002.

At the time, the Beta SL-HF 400/600/800, Panasonic and Hitachi-made VHS units were so much better, nobody wanted to fix the heavy old tanks.

i have a really early sony toploader vcr from the mid 70s, vhs format, built like a tank.
you know, the ones that work kinda like a cassette deck where when you hit the play button and it mechaniclly puts the tape on the head!! uber cool man. its in nice shape and even has the accesory clock timer for it. no digital crap on it, all analogue and electro mechanical, oh and it has wood sides so it matches most of my other gear!
and yes, it still works!

Vhs? I thought that S0ny only made betamax format machines untill it was clear that VHS had won the format war in the mid 80's.

uh uh. im positive its VHS. and its from the 70s, could be wrong about the brand though, its been in storage for 10+ years, so its been awile since i saw it. but im almost positive its a sony.

Separate timer and wood side panels sounds like Sony, all right, but it will not be a VHS machine then. If it is a VHS machine, though, there were numerous brands of top-loading, mechanical-key machines between 1977 and 1979-80. All of them had the timer built in, though, as far as I remember. (Built-in timer was one of the three advantages of the first VHS VCR over the competing Sony Betamax. Can anyone here name the other two? :) )

Longer record time, and either a built in RF modualtor or more likely the ability to program the channel you want to record instead of leaving a mechanical tuner set to the desired channel.

oldest VHS machine I've owned was a 1981 Magnavox branded top-loader with----KNOB TUNING!---- what a relic. 2 head.

The oldest VHS VCR I currently have is an RCA VBT-200 dated Oct 23, 1977 in pretty good condition. The oldest Beta VCR I've got is an early 1976 Sony SL-7200 with the BI speed only(Then the X1 speed before 1979). I've also got a Panasonic U-Matic video recorder w/tuning(both UHF and VHF) from about 1973 approx. with a wired remote as well. I've got plenty of other pre-1984-85 VCRs as well which also includes a circa 1983 Quasar front-loader VCR.

Built-in timer was one of the three advantages of the first VHS VCR over the competing Sony Betamax. Can anyone here name the other two?

Longer record time, and either a built in RF modulator or more likely the ability to program the channel you want to record instead of leaving a mechanical tuner set to the desired channel.
Yes, longer record/play time is one, and a remote pause control (hard-wired) is the other (well, I am pretty sure that was standard on the original JVC VCR).

The first VCR without a mechanical tuner was the RCA VCT-400 in 1978, with a multi-button varactor tuner. That model was also the first VCR that could record multiple timed programs on different channels (four events in seven days). That feature was yet another where VHS passed Beta early; the first programmable Beta VCR was the Sony SL-5400 not released until late 1979, and it did one event in three days.

I rented a Panasonic, top load VHS in 1982 from Granada TV for $24 per month. $1250 was just to much money and with all the moving parts, I figure that just renting it, Granada would keep the repairs up on the machine .
A few years later, Granada closed their business in Canada and I bought the machine for approx $150.
The VCR was plain Jane, no stereo and the remote was a long wire with pause and start .

Mine is an RCA VET250 toploader, I believe it's from 1980. It was sent to me from a generous member of AudioKarma half a dozen years ago, with the provision that I care for it well and use it. I'm all about keeping promises :)

I have a couple of Toshiba Betamax VCRs from the early 80s. I've got a top-load Sanyo betamax from unknown period.

The oldest VHS is probably an old Sharp from the late 80s my father bought "out of necessity", he hated VHS. I also had a couple of VCRs, one was branded Goldstar, the other was RadioShack, both used interchangable parts (because I swapped them out)

Sent from my Samsung Intercept with Tapatalk

oldest vcr jvc 3300-au .. not sure what the au stands for
this is a auction find
anybody know more about it please let me know thanks
bob

Bob-

That's "the one", the first VHS VCR, from 1977. The "U" is for USA, I am pretty sure, and the "A" probably means it is an improved version of the original (HR-3300U). That model only works in the SP speed (the only speed that should be used in any case).

Absolutely. Either go from the Ch 3 or 4 RF out of the converter box to the Ant In of the VCR and tune it in, or go from Video and Audio outputs of the converter box to the Video and Audio Inputs on your VCR. If the VCR is mono there's probably a setting in the converter box's menu to set the audio to mix the stereo audio to mono.

thanks
i hooked it up today and wow it plays great ...now to see if it can record

Let's see.... I'd have to say a JVC HR-3300 still in the box with all the factory toys, and a Mitsubishi re-badge of the same model. Both are 1976 first-gen VHS but are oddly much smaller than my 1977 RCA VBT-200 (rebadged Panasonic PV-1100 I think?). I think I might have a VCT-400 around here too. For the Beta side I have an SL-7200, an SL-8200, and an SL-8600. I was offered a perfect LV-1901 for free but had to turn it down due to space constraints. Geez I need to thin out the herd as it is!

...1977 RCA VBT-200 (rebadged Panasonic PV-1100 I think?). 1977 probably PV-1000. Panasonic's 1st VHS VCR too. Had a separate head amp board behind the head drum. Next PV-1100 had the head amp down on the bottom swing-out video board and the picture wasn't as good.

I held out buying a VCR for awhile, so my first one was a Panasonic stereo VHS with Dolby B noise reduction and varactor tuning.

I held out buying a VCR for awhile, so my first one was a Panasonic stereo VHS with Dolby B noise reduction and varactor tuning. Sounds like the PV-1780 I bought in late 1982, pre-hifi, linear stereo with Dolby noise reduction, mono tuner. Used it mostly to record stereo off of cable with stereo simulcast on FM.

I thought mine had a stereo tuner. I remember hearing MTV in stereo thru it. It had fairly decent audio on the linear tracks @ SP speed.

If it was made before 1984 it had a mono tuner. They had not settled on a MTS standard for the US yet.

Probably post '84. I remember Joe Jackson's "Stepping Out" and Billy Joel's "Allentown" being popular music videos at the time.

Was unfortunate timing the Panasonic PV-1730 that came out in '83 which was loaded with features, had a die-cast chassis, direct drive reels, hi-fi stereo, AND stereo linear audio with Dolby for backward compatibility with older non-hi-fi linear stereo tapes, but missed getting a stereo tuner by a year.

Was unfortunate timing the Panasonic PV-1730 that came out in '83 which was loaded with features, had a die-cast chassis, direct drive reels, hi-fi stereo, AND stereo linear audio with Dolby for backward compatibility with older non-hi-fi linear stereo tapes, but missed getting a stereo tuner by a year.

I'm surprised this machine didn't come with a port to connect an outboard MTS decoder like the Sony SL-HFR Betamax machines.

This is my oldest VCR I have owned, I like this one because it was simple to use and setup.
Panasonic and RCA were the same machine, back then.
It needs a belt to run the number counter, the VCR will not work without it.
Were is a good place that sells belts for the older VCR's?

http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b425/ultracontrast/VCR%20RCA/VCRPanasonic.jpg

Were is a good place that sells belts for the older VCR's?

I've used Studio Sound Electronics (http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com) - they have a good catalog and I've been happy with their service.

oldest vcr jvc 3300-au .. not sure what the au stands for
this is a auction find
anybody know more about it please let me know thanks
bob

Maybe it means AUCTION. LOLLL.

I've used Studio Sound Electronics (http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com) - they have a good catalog and I've been happy with their service.

They seem to have everything but don't sell to Canada yet.

Here is another source, in Michigan:

http://www.kenselectronics.com/lists/belts.htm

And, one that is not too far from me here in California:

http://electronicplus.com/content/ProductPage.asp?pagenum=1&lname=&maincat=be&subcat=be

I do not know if either ships to Canada, though.

I do not know if either ships to Canada, though.[/QUOTE]

I thought NAFTA was supposed to end that foolishness.:nono:

I currently own a Mitsubishi HS-300U VCR from 1981. It's really heavy and built like a tank. It still works well after 30 years, although one day I need to open it up and do a little TLC.

I don't have a picture of it (it's at home, a long way from here), but the video below has the same model. Surprisingly there was zero info anywhere about this VCR, except for the Youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH4xylRiBng

Not shown is the optional brick-sized remote and its receiver, which plugs into the back of the VCR and has a few feet of cable so you can position it for best reception. Mine came with both, which I guess is a rare find.

It's a great setup and goes well with my Zenith TV of about the same vintage - also working great, despite my Grandma using it daily for 25 years.


What is the oldest VCR you have? I have yet to find anything that predates this beast.


-Tim

A Grundig VC2000 from the late 70's. Like audio cassettes the V2000 cassettes could be turned over. The last generation were two speed with Hi-Fi stereo, giving up to 16 hours recording on a single cassette. The video heads laid down a guide track as they recorded so not only did they track automatically, a tape could be recorded on one machine and played back on another without any tracking error.

Much better spec than Betamax or VHS but too late on the market. That plus problems with the first generation units, and a basic misjudgment of how important the video rental market would be led to relatively low sales.

I don't know if this format was marketed much outside Europe.

A Grundig VC2000 from the late 70's. Like audio cassettes the V2000 cassettes could be turned over. The last generation were two speed with Hi-Fi stereo, giving up to 16 hours recording on a single cassette. The video heads laid down a guide track as they recorded so not only did they track automatically, a tape could be recorded on one machine and played back on another without any tracking error.

Much better spec than Betamax or VHS but too late on the market. That plus problems with the first generation units, and a basic misjudgment of how important the video rental market would be led to relatively low sales.

I don't know if this format was marketed much outside Europe.
Was that unit sourced by Matsushita, or built by Grundig? There was an odd unit sold under the Quasar name. IIRC, it was a V1000. I never saw one in operation. It didn't go over at all. Mid 1970's.

Was that unit sourced by Matsushita, or built by Grundig? There was an odd unit sold under the Quasar name. IIRC, it was a V1000. I never saw one in operation. It didn't go over at all. Mid 1970's.

I think it was a collaboration of Grundig and Phillips. Did Grundig or Phillips have much of a market in the USA? If not "Sourced by Matsushita" might mean that they bought the right to sell modified models to test the US market.

I thought NAFTA was supposed to end that foolishness.:nono:
Only for business to business deals. Business to consumer transactions, no. Unfortunately.

My first VCR was that same model under a different brand name, I think it was Sylvania or Magnavox.

My oldest VCR I have right now and currently in use is a 1982 JVC HR-7650U 4-head Dolby Stereo VHS, placed below my main computer, Blu-Ray player, and LCD TV/Monitor. I selected this VCR because it's the tallest one I have, and it helps adjust the viewing angle position of my monitor.

It even has its own wireless remote control, front-loading system, and FF/REW video search. Not bad for a 1982 VHS VCR. :yes:

I don't see why not. All you have to do is connect the converter between your cable and the VCR, put the latter on channel 3 or 4, and you're good to go. Note that you would tune channels on the cable box, not the VCR or the TV. The latter must remain on channel 3 or 4 to receive the output of the VCR, through which the cable box connects to your TV. The diagram below explains this:



Cable--->cable box--->VCR--->television


The same connection scheme will work if you are using a TV antenna with a DTV converter box; just substitute "DTV box" for "cable box" in the diagram. Be sure you have sufficient signal strength at the antenna, however, before you try this. The reason is that the over-the-air TV signal will be weaker at each connection point in the system; that is, it will be strongest where the antenna connects to the DTV box, and weakest at the point where the VCR connects to the television's antenna terminals. This dodge will work even with NTSC (pre-DTV) VCRs and televisions since the cable box will convert the digital (ATSC) signal to NTSC analog.

Just purchased a 1977 RCA VBT200 to run with my roundie color sets.

Excellent find!

I have the Oldest VCR in my Collection.

Sony SL-5800 (1980)

Zenith VR9760 (1980)

RCA VFT 650 (1981)

and, I think that I have one more

RCA VFT 450

I have not played with them as yet

Cheers!!:thmbsp:

I've still got my old Pana-built Quasar that a customer declined an estimate on in the 90's. His loss. :yes:

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii110/blasttapes/20080728-5220QuasarVH5100QWVCR.jpg

I had the Panasonic version of this, bought in '79, right B4 the 6 hr version came out...Gave it to my Church in '85, doubt they've used it in years, need to go snatch it back B4 they shit-can it...

Well the oldest I have is a 1977 Sony SLO-340 BI betamax deck. Very nice considering it's age. It won't record from the camera input :/ It is in my parents' basement

My oldest machine in service is my JVC HR-D130U. Bought that puppy in the summer of 2010, as it was only $5. A little cleaning got 'er running. It's from 1984 according to the internet. It has manual tracking, linear mono audio, 4-head, and those big SP video heads JVC was known for. It has the best SP video quality I've ever seen. Unfortunately it is not functioning fully. It threads tape for play, but it seems the take-up reel doesn't engage and the capstan doesn't want to spin. The motors run strong, however so I think it is bad belts. i've made many tapes on that deck...

A little newer runs my Quasar VH-5857K. She is mint, and has as many bells and whistles as a VCR could have when made on August 2, 1985 (it is written on a sticker in the back). HiFi, Simulcast, three-speed SP-LP-SLP, slo-mo, frame-advance, audio dub, and a host of other features, it is my favourite. It's a 4Head as well.

Cheers!

I still have my Sony SL-5600 that we got for Christmas in 1980. My parents took us to Service Merchandise in November and i carried it out. Weighed over forty pounds in the box. Man that was fun.

I still have a seldom used Sony SL 2000 with a TT2000 hooked up to the tv. I also have a sleek and slender Sony SL 2500. Both are still working units. I bought them new at wholesale when I worked at a shop back in the '70's.

I still have my Sony SL-5600 that we got for Christmas in 1980. My parents took us to Service Merchandise in November and i carried it out. Weighed over forty pounds in the box. Man that was fun.

Had it too, girlfriend threw it away when I wasnt home.. ex-girlfriend..

Worked on a s*tload of those Sony SL2000s that would come in with broken off pins on the loading ring assy. Replaced dozens of those rings before they came up with a repair kit to just fix the broken off pins. Likewise the SL2500 with the same problem, plus on those the original plastic front loading gears that would break. Fix was a kit with metal gears. Some the cylinder would get worn slick and the stiction of the tape would drag in rewind, had to replace the head drum ass'y. Big bucks. And tons of SL5400s and 5600s and the Zenith equivalents that had seized capstan motors, and needed rewind kits. Ah those were the days of 25-35 VCR repairs a week, sometimes running 2 to 3 weeks turnaround because there were so many of 'em!

The oldest VCR I ever owned was a 1984 JVC HR-7100U top loader. I had it for about 3 months back in 2005. During the time I had it, I only got it to work once. The belts were getting really bad and for some reason, playback wouldn't engage, except for the one freak time I did get it to play.

http://www.oaktreevintage.com/web_photos/Video/JVC_HR-7100U_VHS_web.jpg

The oldest VCR I ever owned was a 1984 JVC HR-7100U top loader. I had it for about 3 months back in 2005. During the time I had it, I only got it to work once. The belts were getting really bad and for some reason, playback wouldn't engage, except for the one freak time I did get it to play.

http://www.oaktreevintage.com/web_photos/Video/JVC_HR-7100U_VHS_web.jpg

Perhaps it was because the belts were going bad that the VCR wouldn't go into playback mode, and the problem became progressively worse as time went on and one or more belts finally wore through, stretched, or snapped. Newer VCRs (such as my own Panasonic PV-4022, bought new in 2002 and still going strong, though I don't use it much since getting a DVD player) have mostly gear drives and few belts, except for one thick belt that links the motor to the drive mechanism.

The gear-drive VCRs are good performers, but can be very noisy. My Panny VCR makes a loud screeching noise when in rewind mode (has done this since it was new), but otherwise it works amazingly well for being 10 years old. The only use it gets anymore is occasional viewing of my old VHS videos and (rarely) time-shifting programs. I'd use it more often for the latter, but its tuner doesn't receive digital subchannels (most of my favorite old shows, '70s crime dramas mostly such as Kojak, Cannon, Rockford Files, et al., are on MeTV and Antenna TV) and I don't want a cable box on the VCR. I have Time Warner Cable expanded basic service, connected more or less directly to the TV; I say "more or less" because the cable line from the wall connects to my RF modulator for the DVD (now Blu-ray), then to the VCR, and then to the TV's antenna socket. No cable box. It's a complicated hookup, to be sure, but hey, it works. No cable box also means I hardly ever need to call the cable company for service, either. Makes for a nice, trouble-free setup. :yes:

The oldest VCR I ever owned was a 1984 JVC HR-7100U top loader. I had it for about 3 months back in 2005. During the time I had it, I only got it to work once. The belts were getting really bad and for some reason, playback wouldn't engage, except for the one freak time I did get it to play.

http://www.oaktreevintage.com/web_photos/Video/JVC_HR-7100U_VHS_web.jpg
Replace the loading belt, capstan belt, clutch belt, drive belt, and counter belt. Kit can be purchased at: http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com/mbk-06.htm

Changing the loading belt is rather difficult, and it requires removing a metal ring retainer. Be careful not to lose it, or you're screwed.

My first VCR machine was a early Sony 3/4" U-Matic that a Oak Ridge, TN firm sold off when they got themselves a Betamax. Paid $50 for it and a engineer friend at WBIR gave me some used U-Matic blanks. This was back in 1976.

and a engineer friend at WBIR gave me some used U-Matic blanks. This was back in 1976. Need any more tapes? I might have a few. Useless to me.

My oldest VCR I have right now and currently in use is a 1982 JVC HR-7650U 4-head Dolby Stereo VHS, placed below my main computer, Blu-Ray player, and LCD TV/Monitor. I selected this VCR because it's the tallest one I have, and it helps adjust the viewing angle position of my monitor.

It even has its own wireless remote control, front-loading system, and FF/REW video search. Not bad for a 1982 VHS VCR. :yes:
I replaced the used one with a brand new, never opened, factory-sealed one (not kidding). This 1982 JVC HR-7650U is by far my most-favorite VHS VCR model, due to its ruggedness construction and unique look. Cost me C $339.99 + C $85.30 shipping (US $435.16 shipped). I was lucky because seller re-listed it again for $110 more.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280882322489

Seller (now the largest vintage JVC VHS VCR dealer on Earth) has 10 different new-in-box models for sale:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_nkw=jvc+vhs+new&_sacat=0&_odkw=&item=280882322489&_osacat=0&_ssn=sahand0

Of all 10 models, I think only the HR-7650U is worth buying. The others are worthless mono units, with some models from the mid-90s.

Breaking off the 30-year old factory tape was a blast. Will attach some pictures later from my actual new unit.

Worked on a bunch of 7650s in the day. Congrats!

Probably in need of all things rubber. The rubber rollers that pull the tape into the FL mechanism used to get build-up from oils etc from so many tapes put into it, and stop front-loading, just sit there with the tape half-way in and run until it times out and ejects the tape. Usually a good cleaning of the rollers and sliding surfaces of the slippery tape whatever it was they used on the bottom of the tape holder. Head-switching relay was another common problem. Anyway now you have a unit to play all those old linear stereo tapes!

Worked on a bunch of 7650s in the day. Congrats!

Probably in need of all things rubber. The rubber rollers that pull the tape into the FL mechanism used to get build-up from oils etc from so many tapes put into it, and stop front-loading, just sit there with the tape half-way in and run until it times out and ejects the tape. Usually a good cleaning of the rollers and sliding surfaces of the slippery tape whatever it was they used on the bottom of the tape holder. Head-switching relay was another common problem. Anyway now you have a unit to play all those old linear stereo tapes!
I know about these rubber roller issues, in fact I cleaned one before from the used unit. Very simple job for me, fortunately, and not too annoying.

This new-in-box JVC HR-7650U, surprisingly, has worked very well and trouble-free so far, logging-in 6 hours of use already.

There were some new-in-box, never opened VHS VCRs I bought before with problems (my entire list of all the new, factory-sealed VCRs so far):


Worst one was definitely the 1984 Sharp VC-489U 4-Head Hi-Fi. Immediately out from the factory-sealed, unopened box, the tracking knob and picture sharpness knob didn't work, a capstan motor IC failed after only 1 hour from use (STK6942), idler tire became slippery that required cleaning after 6 hours from use, and clock display had uneven, stuck-lit brightness problem. I replaced the STK6942 already, and it failed again 4 hours later. Then I replaced the STK6942 for the third time, and this time I repeatedly press the FF and REW buttons multiple times because the STK6942 attempted to fail again for the third time, until a big burn smell came out from the main board, and the circuit successfully bypassed the STK6942 IC. It has worked fine since, except the higher-speed FF and REW video search didn't work anymore. This unit spent more time fixing and tearing apart than using. Sold it a year later for $400 shipped with a non-working tracking and sharpness knob, due to its poor reliability.


Second worst would be the 1990 Panasonic PV-4062 4-Head Hi-Fi. The video failed after only 15 minutes from use. Replaced all the surface-mount caps underneath the green hybrid IC board at the video board, and it works fine now. Ordering the surface-mount caps were difficult and costly to replace. Sold it a month later for $550 shipped, because I knew the Hi-Fi audio board is going to fail soon (another surface-mount caps issue), and I didn't want to keep it.


Third worst would be the 1990 Mitsubishi HS-U82 S-VHS editing. Immediately out from the factory-sealed box, video-head drum had bearing noise issue, and the shuttle "on" button on the remote quit working after 15 days. Sold it for $1,500 shipped on eBay, due to its precious value, and buyer still doesn't know about this problem.


Forth worst would be the 1992 Symphonic VCR-7860 4-Head, which I still have. Nothing goes wrong so far, except some of the caps in the switching power supply are leaking after only 1 month from use, and it made my whole room smell. Haven't had the time to replace them yet.


Fifth worst would be the 1993 Panasonic AG-1280P Super 4-Head, which I still have. Nothing goes wrong so far, except the capstan motor often locks up and would not work on SLP speed only after only 2 months from use.


Sixth worst would be the 1984 Panasonic PV-1330R 2-Head. Video head drum had some dried-up, hard to hear bearing-noise issue after only 15 minutes from use. Resold it for $450 shipped on eBay, and buyer still doesn't know about this problem.


Seventh worst would be the 1989 Toshiba SV-F990 S-VHS editing. Capstan motor failed after only 1-year from use. Replaced all the surface-mount caps on the capstan motor board, and it works fine now. Sold it for $1,500 shipped on eBay, due to its precious value.


Eight worst (or best) would be the 1990 Zenith VRS950FC VHS/VHS-C compatible 4-Head (still have), 1991 Panasonic AG-1260P Super 4-Head (sold), 2000 Panasonic PV-V4520 4-Head Hi-Fi (sold), 2000 Panasonic PV-VS4820 S-VHS (sold), 2000 Panasonic PV-HD1000 D-VHS (sold), 2002 Panasonic AG-2570P 4-Head Hi-Fi (still have), 2002 Hitachi VT-FX6510A 4-Head Hi-Fi (sold), 2003 JVC HR-HS30000U D-VHS (sold), and 2004 Mitsubishi HS-HD2000U D-VHS (sold). No problems reported.

The owner at Studio Sound Electronics claims that the 1980s Sharp were more-reliable than the 1980s JVC. However, I disagree with him (but I may be wrong). Some of the early-80s Sharp units were very-troublesome and clunky, actually. He probably forgot and factored in the 1988-1993 chassis version too much and not enough on the older 1979-1987 units. Can anyone verify?
.

Amazing that there are so many unopened VCRs and other items out there. That seller must have found a store full of things.

The owner at Studio Sound Electronics claims that the 1980s Sharp were more-reliable than the 1980s JVC. However, I disagree with him. Some of the early-80s Sharp units were very-troublesome and clunky, actually. He probably forgot and factored in the 1988-1993 chassis version too much and not enough on the older 1979-1987 units. Can anyone verify?
.


I'd bet I saw 100 JVCs for every 1 Sharp that came through the shop, and we were authorized service for both brands. I am sure JVC sold many more VCRs than Sharp, too. '80s JVCs? They went through several revisions and new mechanisms and they all had their issues. Used to see several later '80s JVCs a week with the brass guide posts on the bottom of the tape entry and exit guides fallen out loose inside the machine. Mode switches were a problem. Bad grounds on the deck terminal board, power supply problems.. kept me busy.

I'd bet I saw 100 JVCs for every 1 Sharp that came through the shop, and we were authorized service for both brands. I am sure JVC sold many more VCRs than Sharp, too. '80s JVCs? They went through several revisions and new mechanisms and they all had their issues. Used to see several later '80s JVCs a week with the brass guide posts on the bottom of the tape entry and exit guides fallen out loose inside the machine. Mode switches were a problem. Bad grounds on the deck terminal board, power supply problems.. kept me busy.
Thanks for the write-up. So, is he right the whole time stating that Sharp was more reliable than JVC, based on what you described? JVC decks look and operate better than Sharp to me, but I guess smoother operations sometimes mean more trouble.

Used to see several later '80s JVCs a week with the brass guide posts on the bottom of the tape entry and exit guides fallen out loose inside the machine. Mode switches were a problem. Bad grounds on the deck terminal board, power supply problems.. kept me busy.
Yes, that's the JVC MBK-45 and MBK-78 chassis that Studio Sound Electronics like to call, produced from 1989 to 1994. He also agree that it's an unreliable chassis. There's also a problem with the gear pulley in the middle of the capstan motor flywheel cracking and falling off for the ones used a polystyrene nylon teeth belt. They also used switching power supplies that frequently failed, and a surface-mount cap issue on the video drum motor board that made pictures look half-snowy.

Some people like to rename JVC as the "Junkie Video Company," based on how many defective units JVC put out there.

Thanks for the write-up. So, is he right the whole time stating that Sharp was more reliable than JVC, based on what you described? JVC decks look and operate better than Sharp to me, but I guess smoother operations sometimes mean more trouble.

I think JVC sold a lot more VCRs than Sharp at least around here. If the sales numbers were equal don't know. I remember going into a Kroger store to do some grocery shopping and they had a pallet of JVC VCRs on the floor for sale. Very common and available.

Pulleys falling off the capstan motor.. I remember those little white plastic pulleys for the ribbed reel drive belt that would crack and slip of just fall off. I think I may still have a few in my old tool box. And reminiscent Mitsubishi! MCM sold a nice brass pulley kit for those Mitsubishis. They relied on the capstan motor for FL drive, so they would usually first fail with loading or unloading a tape.

All that old stuff... obsolete. Like buggy whips.

I have a GE 1VCR4002X from 1983 and a Sanyo Betacord VCR 4500. The GE my parents got me from the Thrifty Shopper a few years ago. It came with the original owners manual and two, count 'em, two wired remotes! It started to eat tapes the minute I used it so I ordered a belt kit from Studio Sound. The kit worked, but getting to the bottom belts was a sheer pain in-the-you-know-what.

The Sanyo I found in what I'd describe as a true junk store for only ten bucks. Also found a whole bunch of Beta tapes with their labels still on their sheets, and even five of the early Magnetic Video Corp. movies, dated from 1978. The Sanyo needed belts too, but was MUCH easier to work on than the GE. Over the past couple of years I found a wired remote for it, ordered a reprint of the owners manual from Mr. Betamax, and even scored the original service manual off eBay.

I still use both from occasionally to time-shift since we don't have cable. Except I wonder my machines count in this list because I acquired them only a couple of years ago, and both were manufactured and sold quite a few years before I was even born. ;)

All that old stuff... obsolete. Like buggy whips.

No, not obsolete! .....VINTAGE. Like a real fine 409.

I don't remember all the model numbers.

VCRs
BETAMAX - a "Sears" beta portable by Toshiba IIRC. Had to rig an RCA camera with a special plug to fit it.
VHS - the second model with an RCA name on it. Really a Panasonic. I worked in a TV shop and built that one from a few junkers.

VTRs - IVC color models 800 and 870 which was the insert editor. Still have those American made units and an alignment tape. I believe they are from the 1970's. The chroma was not down-converted but rather the whole bandwidth was put on tape and the outgoing burst phase was fidgeted to keep the tint correct. In the manual one can see the color machine just has one extra board for that job. The tape wrapped 360 degrees on those and the switching was done inside the vertical blanking

http://www.videokarma.org/picture.php?albumid=658&pictureid=3618 My first VCR was a VO-1600.

My first VCR was/is a 1971 Sony VO-1600 Umatic

As was my own first VCR. I bought mine in 1976 for $50 with some tapes from a high tech firm in Oak Ridge.

The two oldest VHS machines I can recall owning, were: a 1981 Magnavox which was built by Panasonic, a top-loader, non-remote with knob tuners and mono audio. It was given to me by my uncle.
And a 1984 Sharp with wired remote, mono audio but electronic tuning. It was my parents.

The two oldest VHS machines I can recall owning, were: a 1981 Magnavox which was built by Panasonic, a top-loader, non-remote with knob tuners and mono audio. It was given to me by my uncle.
And a 1984 Sharp with wired remote, mono audio but electronic tuning. It was my parents.

My first VCR was a Panasonic-built Magnavox. It was the first under $600.00 VCR, I saw. It had the old style tuners, one day, one event timer and a corded pause button. It still was a top load, but the first generation of the slightly smaller models. It still had a lot of circuitry, compared with the newer models.

My first VCR was/is a 1971 Sony VO-1600 Umatic

My current oldest VCR is a VO-1600. They are real impressive solid machines!

My current oldest VCR is a VO-1600. They are real impressive solid machines!
Hey Tom!
Glad to see you back again! You're engineering studies are more important.
BTW, the Utah speakers, I bought from your father are sounding great!
They can really handle the power and are not like the newer speakers, that are scrap, because of the rotting surrounds.
See you November 9th. :thmbsp:

I lost count what is the oldest VCR I have here.More likely I know I have ones from the 1970's of the VHS and Beta format.

Along with other formats like reel to reel and cartridge , Umatic,Sanyo Vcord .reel machines from 1 inch to 1/4 inch here too.Some working and some are not.

Also I can add the 2 Fisher Price PXL2000 cassette kids camcorders.

Here's a Philips N1500. (this one isnt mine, but I have exactly the same model)

Dates from 1972. Has all the features that made up a domestic video recorder.
1 event 1 day (Cooker style) timer, cassette tape, built-in tuner.

130uM video-tracks, two head, guard-band colour (Chroma Under) recording, Eddy-current brakes used for both head and capstan servos. The tape speed was over 14 inches a second....
The cassette has one reel above the other co-axial style, the supply reel below the take-up, in a thick squarish boxy cassette, 1/2" tape was used.

Will record and play for 1 hour.

The later N1700 halved the tape speed and used slant-azimuth recording. Period modifications to the earlier N1500 included updating to the N1700 format by changing head disc and machining capstan pulley to halve the tape speed.

I lost count what is the oldest VCR I have here.More likely I know I have ones from the 1970's of the VHS and Beta format.

Along with other formats like reel to reel and cartridge , Umatic,Sanyo Vcord .reel machines from 1 inch to 1/4 inch here too.Some working and some are not.

Also I can add the 2 Fisher Price PXL2000 cassette kids camcorders.

I should of add the VCRs I first purchased as new in the box which was a Panasonic HiFi portable combo with tuner PV9600 in 1985 about a year later I bought a Sony SL-HF750 ans a NEC N965U.

The Sony Betamax is the only one still alive.The others need some repair.

The NEC was a nightmare and it had alot of issues and in for repair many times.When It worked It had an awesome picture and sound.

The Panasonic portable was a workhorse until it had mechanical and alignment issues.

Also in 1985 I added the Radio Shack Realistic TV100 MTS stereo receiver to the Panasonic since its tuner was only mono at the time.

Wow I dont believe it was almost 30 years ago.

The oldest VCR I have is a 1972 Philips N1500. this cassette format is the first consumer format and predates the Betamax and VHS by nearly half a decade.

My oldest VHS is an RCA VBT-200 from October 1977.

The oldest VCR I have is a 1972 Philips N1500. this cassette format is the first consumer format and predates the Betamax and VHS by nearly half a decade.
.


Ah--Another N1500....

Is yours working....

Mine has issues with those horrible Lockfit (BC148, BF194 etc) transistors....
Changed 11 of them to date, and probably end up replacing all the machine contains, which will be fun:no:
--Between faulty transistors, the machine works pretty well...

I didn't know they sold these Stateside, I thought it was a Euro only model.....

The Sony U-Matic VO-1600 like this one.

http://www.rewindmuseum.com/umatic.htm

It used 3/4 inch tape and had play/record capability. Sad to say, no longer own it. Back in the day was very happy to get rid of the big beast. Replaced with the first VHS machine available in the U.S., a JVC HR-3300 Vidstar.

The oldest VCR I have is a 1972 Philips N1500. this cassette format is the first consumer format and predates the Betamax and VHS by nearly half a decade.

My oldest VHS is an RCA VBT-200 from October 1977.

U-matic (1971) was the first consumer VCR format. Sony initially built it for the consumer market (the built in tuners and RF out on the VO-1600 that were deleted in subsequent models show this intent), but it was too expensive to attract the market Sony wanted (as Sony learned from the sales data from the flagship VO-1600). So Sony changed gears and switched to marketing it as a broadcast format.

U-matic (1971) was the first consumer VCR format. Sony initially built it for the consumer market (the built in tuners and RF out on the VO-1600 that were deleted in subsequent models show this intent), but it was too expensive to attract the market Sony wanted (as Sony learned from the sales data from the flagship VO-1600). So Sony changed gears and switched to marketing it as a broadcast format.

Most believe the N-1500 was the first "consumer" VCR and the Sony the first VCR. The criterion for consumer VCR would be to record and playback, include a tuner and include a timer (the Sony did not include the timer).

Alas my N-1500 has bad video heads. If anyone has a video drum to spare, I'd be most grateful.

http://www.rewindmuseum.com/umatic.htm

It records, plays back and has a tuner. I consider their opinion of a timer being part of the consumer criteria to be BS. I have Zenith's first betamax deck (a rebadged Sony, one of their first 2-3 models), and that unit (as well as Sony's version) lacked internal timers (which were sold as accessories). Sony, among others, did this for their first few standalone beta models which by that site's logic would disqualify them from being a consumer models...Despite everyone recognizing them as consumer models.
....Besides most houses had or could cheaply get appliance timers that would run most early VTRs so why add a few bucks to an already costly consumer product when you could make it an accessory?

I consider their opinion of a timer being part of the consumer criteria to be BS.

Maybe the timer issue is BS. Nevertheless, the Sony U-matic was never considered as a domestic format due to its high cost and the 3/4" tape with limited recording duration. The Philips format evolved from a short 1 hour duration and was a serious contender along with the Betamax and VHS in Europe.

Perhaps your contention the U-matic was the first maybe because the delayed uptake of home VCRs in North America vs Europe? The N1500 became popular throughout Europe and is perhaps non-existent in North America.

The Sony U-Matic VO-1600 was not considered a home consumer VTR. It was considered semi-professional. When I wanted to buy mine, it was only available from places that sold broadcast equipment for the professional industry. This was back in the early 70's.

I have a Sony VO-1600 U-Matic machine. These were never considered to be professional.

Back when they were young, my TV station had several of them around the building in the conference room, etc. We could make recordings on any of them, and then take the tape to the studio Control room and play them on the professional-grade U-Matic machines there and you could tell the difference in the quality of the recording on the tape by looking at the waveform scope image.

My 1600 was built in January 1972, and is still running today after many belt-sets were replaced in it. It's on its 3rd video head assembly, and the recordings will lock in a couple of seconds.

I also have a VO-1200 player. It was used by Ford for their auto dealerships to show car information to clients. It is badged as a Ford videocassette player, but is a Sony through and through. It's now parts for the 1600.

Today, my main 3/4" machine is a big and heavy Sony BVU-200B that runs like a champ with only a new capstan idler replacement in all these years. It's got a wired remote, and will play anything I have perfectly.

[QUOTE=holmesuser01;3121361]I have a Sony VO-1600 U-Matic machine. These were never considered to be professional.

Back when they were young, my TV station had several of them around the building in the conference room, etc. We could make recordings on any of them, and then take the tape to the studio Control room and play them on the professional-grade U-Matic machines there and you could tell the difference in the quality of the recording on the tape by looking at the waveform scope image."


There is a difference between "home consumer, semi-professional and professional" I said the Sony U Matic VO 1600 was considered semi-professional not professional.

The fact that you mentioned that you saw the VO 1600 at your TV station and studio environment, supports what I said in my comment. When I bought mine in the early 70's, I lived in a major metropolitan area of 1.5 million people, and could only find the VO 1600 in stores that sold broadcast equipment.

I think most folks that were around in the early 70's, mid 70's and had money to buy these machines will say that the "first home consumer VCR's " were the Betamax and VHS machines. That is when video recording went main stream to people's homes. The tape cassettes were smaller and inexpensive, the machines were less cumbersome and cheaper and mom and pop video stores began to pop up all over the place. Once the Sony Betamax lawsuit was settled by the Supreme Court things exploded.

I have about 7 Sony VO-1200 players along with the service manual.One almost killed my back the other night moving it.

They were probably used in schools or running safety tapes at factories or demo/adverts in stores ages ago.

If this counts as a VCR. I forgot to mention I have a Sanyo Vcord recorder here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-Cord


Another format which had a short life.

I have no clue if it work since I have no tapes to check it.

Right, etype2, semi professional. I was trying to agree with and back you up, but it didn't come out that way in my previous post.

I still have recordings I made around 1973 from broadcast TV. Working in the business, at that time, I aquired a bunch of used 60 minute U-Matic cassettes from a production house that for reasons unknown, had rejected these tapes. Of all that I got, I remember only 10 or so of them that were bad. They've all been kept in my house, and all still play. I've had to repair the splices at the beginning and end of the tapes... the splicing tape just dried up and let go... It didn't matter, as I always recorded 30 seconds of color bars on everything I did.

One thing I truly disliked about the 1600 was no pause abilities once the recording was going. Later, I bought a used VO-2850 that could pause. By then, I had a tuner module, so I could record on any video recorder. I still have the RF modulator that I had to buy for the 2850. At that time, all of my TV's only had an antenna input.

Most believe the N-1500 was the first "consumer" VCR and the Sony the first VCR. The criterion for consumer VCR would be to record and playback, include a tuner and include a timer (the Sony did not include the timer).

Alas my N-1500 has bad video heads. If anyone has a video drum to spare, I'd be most grateful.

http://www.rewindmuseum.com/umatic.htm


IF you get the chance--the (In Europe) more popular N1700 VCR series head-drum will physically fit and work.

As opposed the N1500 'straight-head' 130uM the N1700 used 74uM slant-azimuth heads, but will work in the 1500--although will not play 1500 recordings--only its own recordings,--but better than nothing.

Worthwhile--If you get a good set of 1700 series heads, would be to halve the tape-speed, by machining the capstan motor-pulley to exactly half its original diameter, and adding an extra servo pick-up head to the capstan flywheel at right-angles to the original--wire 'em in series (Experience has shown its not really necessary to add another head here--The servo still locks at half-speed happily...)

At this point the machine --isnt quite N1700 standard, as the Capstan itself needs to be machined down somewhat--but a real precision grinding job needs to be done to it, as its Mega Hard steel--I know,--I tried to do one some years ago with a spare shaft, --and failed!....

Whatever you do fit to the machine--Strip and clean the reel-tables well, and re-lubricate with a light oil, Make absolutely certain that the bottom reel table is perfectly free, with no tight-spots etc The Back-Tension is governed by the weight of the bottom-reel and a felt backed disc on the underside of the bottom reel-table.
--Its incredible how fast a set of nice new heads can be trashed by cruddy oil/felt-disc on that reel-table!--Applies to all of the N1500/N1700 series machines.....

My oldest VCR is a Sanyo Betacord/Betamax model VTC 9350 from 1979. It is the PAL and SECAM, Middle East version of the European model 9300! Very rare. It needs belts and idlers and some electronic work...

I have an "Philips" V.C.R. sistem "Grundig" BK3300 V.C.R. and 4 cassettes for it. Unfourtenley, it does need a repair :tears:
My V.H.S. V.C.R. (an 1986-1987 "Panasonic" NV-630PX) it's at a repairamn's shop and it'll stay there untill will get a good repair...