I was told that this VCR is Sanyo-made. The VFD is quite dim, I would like to replace it one of these days as the VCR is in excellent shape otherwise. Anyone have a part number for it?

More likely the power source for it, maybe an old electrolytic cap.

Yes, this VCR was made by Sanyo, but designed in USA by Fisher in Chatsworth, CA. That's where the problem is because Fisher VCRs were the least-reliable and most troublesome back in 1980s.

I guess I got what I consider to be a collector's item then. :) I even have the manual in its original bag and a partially-used sheet of channel number inserts, not to mention the original remote. Also, it's my only top-loader. I'm not in a hurry to fix this one though, my first priority is an old Sears 4-head VCR. The belts turned to tar. We used to have a similar unit that just wouldn't die. "Upgrading" was a big mistake.

All "Fisher" brand audio video gear was made by Sanyo Japan after the early 1970s. And I agree wit Waltchan....in the nineteen80s, Sanyo Fisher made some very unreliable VHS decks. However, their CRT TV sets and monitors were quite good in this time frame. Even the Sanyo brand and Fisher brand solid state stereo gear was good in the eighties, IF you forget the rack-systems and all-in-one garbage. Sanyo Plus-series stereo gear was great..I once owned a freon cooled plus series amp which weighed close to 50 pounds and sounded superb

I assume that the top-loaders are a little more reliable than later models.

Those Fishers like the 530 sure kept me busy replacing idler parts. We were a warranty service shop for Fisher.

All "Fisher" brand audio video gear was made by Sanyo Japan after the early 1970s. And I agree wit Waltchan....in the nineteen80s, Sanyo Fisher made some very unreliable VHS decks. However, their CRT TV sets and monitors were quite good in this time frame. Even the Sanyo brand and Fisher brand solid state stereo gear was good in the eighties, IF you forget the rack-systems and all-in-one garbage. Sanyo Plus-series stereo gear was great..I once owned a freon cooled plus series amp which weighed close to 50 pounds and sounded superb

By "freon cooled" I assume you mean it had a "heat pipe"--which does contain refrigerant.

Yep, it was a heat pipe cooling system. I currently have a Hitachi with this system as well.

Some laptops use the heat pipe system to cool the processor chip--and likely desktops do too...

Apple used a leak-prone heat pipe cooling system in the early G5 towers. Of course they'll always have the market cornered with designers no matter how many expensive and odd-looking duds they make.

Apple used a leak-prone heat pipe cooling system in the early G5 towers. Of course they'll always have the market cornered with designers no matter how many expensive and odd-looking duds they make.

Can I interest you in a gold iPad, perhaps? No? Well, maybe your fancy runs to a colorful plastic toy phone? :tears:

Those Fishers like the 530 sure kept me busy replacing idler parts. We were a warranty service shop for Fisher.
I remember both of those idlers in your pictures. They were probably half of the VCR parts I ever installed, in numerous machines.

Well then, good thing I chose this Sears as my main VCR.