VCRs that will last forever

[jfrog1983]

The well known and SLOW G-chassis! I've got 2 Magnavox VCRs with that chassis, and what's odd in these is the video head drum, where the motor is INSIDE the drum with a brass sleeve full of oil instead of ball bearings, think fluid dynamic bearing from a newer hard drive.

I've also got an AKAI that I've never even seen anywhere, it looks like it has it's own chassis design too.

Got 3 Panasonic PV-1545's from 1984, one has a bad power supply, other has a really dim level meter and the third works pretty well but the power supply is showing signs of going bad...

A Panasonic PV-1730 where I already had to pull apart and reoil the brass sleeve in the video head drum, and works fine but is pretty beat up and shows signs of needing new heads soon.

Also got some nice 1990's Sonys, but looking for that direct drive Hi-Fi stereo one mentioned earlier in this thread.

Finally, got a professional Panasonic deck with a modular chassis that only records in SP speed with a nice direct drive mechanism.

Oh, I got a couple portable units kicking around too!

[Ed in Tx]

My old Panasonic AG-1830 video faded into oblivion because of the electrolytic capacitors in the video module among others I am sure, I gave up on it (I have a brand-new upper drum in the package, thinking it would last forever when I ordered that from Panasonic about $90 at the time...) , I have a Mitsubishi HS-430U I keep going because it will play my few years accumulation of old linear stereo tapes I recorded on a Panasonic PV-1780 I think it was, one generation before Hi-Fi audio and MTS Stereo, when simulcast stereo was popular on cable and with TV and FM stations. Had JVC HR-S5800 and HR-S6700 VCRs in the system for a while but they can get unreliable from little use. Then I bought a Mitsubishi HS-U770 which the mechanism plastic FL guides cracked and failed, and I had to put in a whole new updated mechanism, so it still works, that's one still in operation today. I picked up a JVC HR-S5900U for less than $100 that is so simple mechanically is has little to fail and makes a very nice pic. Cheap but effective. Works every time. I have lots of S-VHS tapes I've recorded off of C-band satellite and OTA since '89 when I bought the AG-1830. Have about 75 Beta tapes but I have no Beta machine to play them on any more. I repaired VCRs for a living, most all brands in and out of warranty for almost 25 years.

[waltchan]

No AK members know what I do, but I am more of a VCR collector than a TV collector. I have more than 50 VCRs. Some are part units. Most are Hi-FI, high-end units. I have so many things to say about VCRs, but no one is interested in VCRs anymore. I hate keeping everything to myself. Need help, ask me, and I may know the answer.

[waltchan]

Originally Posted by jfrog1983

I've also got an AKAI that I've never even seen anywhere, it looks like it has it's own chassis design too.

Akai made their own VCRs up until 1989.

[Ed in Tx]

I seem to remember a couple of Akai branded VCRs from early-mid 80s that were rebadged JVCs, the JVC HR-7650 was one, don't remember the model #s of the Akai versions. We (employer at the time) were warranty service for Akai in those days. I worked on my share of those 7300-7350 Akai two piece portable beasts that were definitely unique to Akai.