VCRs that will last forever

[waltchan]

Canon's last VCR ever made and the very best and finest, VR-HF800. It's made by Panasonic, identical to AG-1820, and the most expensive in their lineup in 1987. I have one and it's a great unit. Comes with digital special effects (strobe, PIP, DNR, etc.). Much better than Fisher and Mitsubishi, in my opinion. Just watch out for the power supply as it is not linear. Otherwise, it's a very reliable unit that uses a G-chassis mechanism with nylon teeth gear belt that never breaks, assuming all the caps at the power supply are already replaced. It was also Panasonic's final Hi-Fi VCR to not use any surface-mount caps on circuit boards.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=250357058298

[andy]

...

[jfrog1983]

I have a couple of Magnavox's with the G chassis, and I don't like the fact that they are so sloooooowwwwww.

My AG-5210 has the K chassis which has the 3rd loading motor and is much faster at responding.

Someone else can go after the Canon, I've got my sights on the Zenith S-VHS (was relisted again), and maybe a JVC commercial direct drive deck.

[Ed in Tx]

Here's what I need.. a Betamax/HD-DVD combo unit! Then I can dub off my 75 or so Beta tapes to HD-DVD!

[Jeffhs]

Well, I'll be...I didn't think anyone made VCRs, let alone VCR/DVD combi units, capable of playing Betamax tapes anymore. Where did you find this one? All the combo DVD/VCR systems I've seen will work only with VHS videocassettes.

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by Jeffhs

Well, I'll be...I didn't think anyone made VCRs, let alone VCR/DVD combi units, capable of playing Betamax tapes anymore. Where did you find this one? All the combo DVD/VCR systems I've seen will work only with VHS videocassettes.

Not sure if it actually exists or if it's an early April Fool's joke! But I read about such a machine in the back of the latest Sound&Vision magazine and did a search, and found a picture.

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by andy

I spent my teenage years fixing and selling VCRs, and I never liked the Panasonic G chassis. I saw countless ones where the gears had jumped a few teeth for no apparent reason. I also saw lots with broken loading mechanisms (and this was when they weren't that old). The mechanism was also really slow and sluggish. If you wanted to go from play to reverse search and back again it would spend what felt like an eternity clicking while it changed modes. They did improve this for the last couple of years (when they used it on the AG-1970/1980) by adding a loading motor instead of driving it with the capstan motor. They also seemed to have finally fixed the gear tolerance issues, and strengthened the loading mechanism for the 1970 and 1980.

The only VHS VCRs I really like are Panasonics from 1985-early 1987, and JVCs from 1984-1988. Panasonic and JVC's mechanisms from those time periods are a pleasure to use, and rarely have anything seriously wrong. They are also easy to get into good working order. Sony Betas are also excellent with their all metal chassis, but they are very tricky to align and repair. A misaligned Sony Beta is a real disaster for the tape.

How about Panasonic's PV-V4022 from the early 1990s? I have one that still works very well. The only thing I don't like about mine is the noisy rewind, but I have an external VHS video rewinder so I don't use the deck's rewind function that much anyway.

BTW, what on earth does "Omnivision" mean as applied to Panasonic VCRs? Mine has that designation on the flap over the tape entry slot in front of the unit. Did that word have anything to do with copy protection of prerecorded VHS videos, pre-DVD era? That's the first thing that comes to my mind when I ponder the origin and meaning of the term.

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by Jeffhs

BTW, what on earth does "Omnivision" mean as applied to Panasonic VCRs?

AS far as I know, this was marketing, a way for Panasonic to distinguish their line from other sellers of essentially the same machines, a trade name, like "Technics".

[waltchan]

Originally Posted by Jeffhs

How about Panasonic's PV-V4022 from the early 1990s? I have one that still works very well. The only thing I don't like about mine is the noisy rewind, but I have an external VHS video rewinder so I don't use the deck's rewind function that much anyway.

This VCR was actually made in 2002, and it qualifies as "cheaply-made" and "disposable," regardless if it is still working fine after 8 years. Regardless of how old is the VCR, they were all designed by the manufacturer to run for 10 years normal, careful use.

[jfrog1983]

How about for a good Panasonic machine, the PV-1545 from the mid 1980's. Give them new rubber, and they will work like new again, and only thing that might need to be done at some point is a recap of the power supply. I've got one with heavy use and the video heads are still good!

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by jfrog1983

How about for a good Panasonic machine, the PV-1545 from the mid 1980's. Give them new rubber, and they will work like new again, and only thing that might need to be done at some point is a recap of the power supply. I've got one with heavy use and the video heads are still good!

Yep pretty much replace the worn out rubber parts, maybe an occasional back-tension band or a take-up clutch, and keep the power supply running, and they will go until the heads wear out!

[andy]

...

[Bogframe]

Originally Posted by waltchan

I've seen tons more Fisher Hi-Fi VCRs than monos since the past 8 years. In fact, there is one right now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fisher-FVH-980-4...3%3A1|294%3A50

Very nice unit in mint condition. It's made in 1986. 80s Fisher VCRs are starting to die out and are being thrown out in great numbers, due to high failure rate. 8 years ago, there were always at least 25 old 80s Fisher Hi-Fi VCRs for sale on eBay everyday. Today, only less than 1 a day.

Originally Posted by waltchan

No problem. I also own the similar model of the Fisher, which is Sanyo VHR-1900. Extremely rare model. The only difference in the Sanyo brand is better reliability. I personally like the Sanyo better because this is the only Hi-Fi VCR ever made with its cassette door that opens downward instead of upward, and it has a really neat Hi-Fi LED meter mounted behind the cassette door. Watch it glow at night, and you cannot believe there is no cassette door in sight, but it transforms into a huge Hi-Fi LED meter. I am in the process to purchase the entire 1986 Sanyo A/V entertainment set (matching TV, CD player, cassette deck, receiver, amplifier, turntable, tuner, and speakers) from the original owner where I bought the VCR from him five years ago. This will be my first, true 80s entertainment set, and I won't find something like this anywhere but from him. However, he is 2,300 miles away from where I live.

Originally Posted by jfrog1983

It seems someone wanted that Fisher really bad, it got to the point where it wasn't cost effective and I ended up losing...

I guess ill keep looking for a 1980's Fisher and or Sanyo, ill even settle for one that needs new belts and a new idler, I know where to get the parts!

The Fisher is at the top of my list right now, with an early Mitsu Hi-Fi being the 2nd and PV-1730 being the third, these are all well built VCRs in my eyes.

My Fisher FVH6600 Stereo VHS turns 20 this year. Everything still works except it won't rewind unless a) the tape is all the way at the end or b) it's in play mode. The playback quality on SP is so good my wife has to remind me to FF through commercials after we've taped something! I wish I could still get a remote to replace the one that died 10 years back.

[AnalogDigit]

I'm not surprised that Panasonic's work well. I own a PV-5800 portable deck and a PV-4760 Hi-Fi VCR with remote at the Goodwill for $9. I purchase this unit when my 21 year old Sharp V-5 VHS Hi-Fi bit the dust. The early Sony's work very well also. I also own a Sony Beta SL-HFR30 at the Goodwill for $3 and a SL-HF400 Beta Hi-Fi which has no problems.

[AnalogDigit]

Originally Posted by Ed in Tx

Here's what I need.. a Betamax/HD-DVD combo unit! Then I can dub off my 75 or so Beta tapes to HD-DVD!

Interesting machine. Looks like it has been Photoshopped!