First Sony Betamax w/TV in console

[radiotvnut]

Our elementary school got a new Panasonic U-Matic machine for the library around '84 or '85. It was connected to a then new 25" Zenith in a particleboard cabinet on a metal roll around cart.

The rest were older Sony machines connected to old tube type 23" RCA metal cabinet Mural TV's.

Someone donated a VHS machine to the school around '87 and we thought we were uptown!

[Whirled One]

Yep, at least Matsushita (Panasonic) and JVC made U-Matic machines in addition to Sony. One thing I always thought was a bit odd, though, is that it seems like all the non-Sony U-Matic VCRs I've seen don't actually call themselves "U-Matic" format or have the "U-Matic" logo. IIRC, the Panasonic machines say "U-Vision" instead, and the JVC machines are "U-VCR", and with different logos. Also, I don't think I've generally seen the U-Matic logo or name appear on any non-Sony 3/4" video cassettes either.

Apparently, Sony didn't treat the "U-Matic" name as part of a licensing system, like they did later with Beta or 8mm (or JVC did with VHS, etc.), where compatible products that passed particular tests (and where the manufacturer paid the license fee) were allowed to be marked with the special identifying logo. I guess the market for U-Matic recorders and tapes was limited enough that having a special "compatiblity assurance" mark wasn't that important, but it seems like that would have been potentially confusing to buyers. (for example, I can imagine someone asking, "Wait a minute, can that "U-VISION"-format video recorder play my "U-Matic" tapes..?")

[matt_s78mn]

Ahh 3/4" ...this format has been around for ages, and believe it or not there are a lot of facilities still using it. At my job we have 3 remaining decks that I have to maintain. They're in the edit bays, and really only used when a news story calls for archive footage. (our entire archive is on 3/4") Even though they're not used all that much, they still go through belts like crazy!! Even though the format's on its way out, I'll never forget the "clunk, clunk, clunk" when you load a tape.

To avoid veering off topic... You do see the U-Matic logo on the later tapes from other manufacturers. I've included a picture of a Maxell bearing the U-Matic SP logo. I'm thinking Sony must have ok'd its use at some point in time.

Also, for forum members that are unfamiliar with the U-Matic format, cassettes are available in two physically different sizes. The smaller sized cassette was designed for portable recorders, and the larger for studio use. The recorders/players designed for studio use can play both cassette sizes (without the use of an adapter.) You'll notice the red dot on the photo of the underside of the large cassette... That's the record prevention tab. If you want to prevent the tape from being recorded over, pop it off, put it back on if you wish to record on the tape.

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by Red October

I have several Betamax units including the coveted SL-HF-900 (one of the best VCRs ever made) and a Japanese home market model...

I had an SL-HF900 also, but lost it and later I learned of the BI mod that could be done on it. If your '900 is the Japanese version, then it already has BI, right?

I wonder what BI would look like if done to an ED Beta machine?

[andy]

I've modified both of my 900's for BI. You are correct that the Japanese market ones had BI.

[kx250rider]

I had an SLHF-1000, which was (I guess) the top of the line all time. It had BI, and BI-SHB, which was exclusive to the 1000 machine. I had a lot of trouble with it though. I bought it new, and it always had weird intermittent problems after it was about a year old.

Charles

[Red October]

My 900 had the BI mod done professionally. It works beautifully and the picture is every bit as good as SVHS. Only the BI-SHB and ED-Beta decks made better pictures.

[dr.ido]

There was actually a Sony SL-HF100 at the junk auction here tonight. I think the SL-HF100 was the highest Beta model sold here. Do PAL versions of the higher end models even exist? It actually ended up selling for more than I expected (certainly a lot more than any VHS deck or DVD player made tonight). Less than eBay prices, but too rich for me (I already have one SL-HF100 that I've barely used).

Word must be getting out, for a long time I was the only one buying the weird old stuff there. I'm not bothered though. More people buying means the vendors will be more likely to pick the old stuff up.

Straight from the curbside garbage collection (where this vendor gets all his stock, not that I'm complaining it's saves my petrol) with a box of tapes and still producing a great picture (at least for the couple of minutes I had it up on the demo monitor).

As for non-Sony U-matic machines with different logos... I recently gave away an old top loading JVC U-Matic deck that was labelled U-matic, not U-vision (now it's gone I'm sure I'll find a box of tapes I need to play).

[andy]

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