Vintage Ge reel to reel style video tape recorder - Videokarma.org TV - Video

GeorgeJetson · #1 03-13-2011, 02:49 PM

I saw a Sony av3600 reel to reel style video tape system today,is it worth picking up?
They guy wanted $75 for it,it's complete in a case.

ChrisW6ATV · #2 03-15-2011, 01:06 AM

Yes, I would think it is a nice collectible device.

JB5pro · #3 03-26-2011, 11:01 PM

why does this say vintage GE ?

GeorgeJetson · #4 03-27-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB5pro

why does this say vintage GE ?

Because I was mistaken. I only casually looked at it the first time because someone else was playing with it.
It had been installed in an bright orange painted wooden case similar to the ones tv servicemen used and it had the round GE logo on the inside of the lid.
Since someone else was hovering over it I didn't see until later when I went back that it was in fact a Sony.

I tried editing the title to correct it,but couldn't.
Sorry for the confusion!

KentTeffeteller · #5 03-27-2011, 05:20 PM

I saw such a machine today. In very nice condition. Looks indeed to be a rebadged Sony. Also had a matching monochrome camera which was also a GE rebadge. $150 asking price.

droptop · #6 03-30-2011, 08:59 PM

Any idea if the GE equipment is still available and the location?
Rick

KentTeffeteller · #7 03-30-2011, 10:00 PM

Just PM'ed you about the location. It's likely still there.

droptop · #8 04-03-2011, 07:07 PM

I was able to get away at the last minute and buy the GE branded SONY recorder and camera outfit. Thanks for the lead. It’s the pre-EIAJ skip field format that records only one of the two vertical fields. It has two heads, one of which records the RF signal to tape. During playback both heads are used. The second head is offset slightly so it plays the same field twice to create a full picture. Supposedly they did this to conserve tape but the later full field recorders used the same head width and tape speed so I’m unsure of the advantage in tape savings. At any rate the format produces a good picture with no flicker on the monitor.

This one is in the walnut case suitable for home use in the living room. I have the same machine in a portable case that is fully restored and functional. The best thing about this find is the camera kit. It’s the exact match to my portable right down to the design of the carrying case which completes the set as well as being useful for either machine.

After baking the reel of tape that came with the machine I viewed the tape on my working machine and discovered part of an old movie recorded off WKBD channel 50 in Detroit. A station ID appeared at the bottom of the screen pretty early into the tape but no indication as to the age of the recording. Whoever recorded it was very good at cutting out the commercial breaks as this machine doesn’t have formal editing capabilities like the Sony CV 2200. I’ve no idea what the name of the movie is. The tape stock is not great quality. After baking and cleaning it still exhibited too much drag to be useful other than to cause undue wear to the heads which appear to be fine on the machine. I haven’t powered it up yet as this series uses a motor start capacitor that will burn out the drive motor. It will be replaced as part of the restoration when I get the chance.

KentTeffeteller · #9 05-01-2011, 04:35 PM

Glad you got the machine and it appears to be in very nice condition. Great restoration candidate. Glad I saw this one for you.

Jason1 · #10 05-31-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droptop

I was able to get away at the last minute and buy the GE branded SONY recorder and camera outfit. Thanks for the lead. It’s the pre-EIAJ skip field format that records only one of the two vertical fields. It has two heads, one of which records the RF signal to tape. During playback both heads are used. The second head is offset slightly so it plays the same field twice to create a full picture. Supposedly they did this to conserve tape but the later full field recorders used the same head width and tape speed so I’m unsure of the advantage in tape savings. At any rate the format produces a good picture with no flicker on the monitor.

This one is in the walnut case suitable for home use in the living room. I have the same machine in a portable case that is fully restored and functional. The best thing about this find is the camera kit. It’s the exact match to my portable right down to the design of the carrying case which completes the set as well as being useful for either machine.

After baking the reel of tape that came with the machine I viewed the tape on my working machine and discovered part of an old movie recorded off WKBD channel 50 in Detroit. A station ID appeared at the bottom of the screen pretty early into the tape but no indication as to the age of the recording. Whoever recorded it was very good at cutting out the commercial breaks as this machine doesn’t have formal editing capabilities like the Sony CV 2200. I’ve no idea what the name of the movie is. The tape stock is not great quality. After baking and cleaning it still exhibited too much drag to be useful other than to cause undue wear to the heads which appear to be fine on the machine. I haven’t powered it up yet as this series uses a motor start capacitor that will burn out the drive motor. It will be replaced as part of the restoration when I get the chance.

I own some reel to reel video recordings from the 1960's and 1970's...anyone willing to transfer them for me?

Electronic M · #11 06-01-2011, 02:24 AM

My EAIJ decks are unrestored, and don't always like track right, but I could give transfering your tapes a try if no one else wants to.

Tom C.

kikopedras · #12 01-23-2012, 08:11 AM

Hello everybody!

I` ve just made myself a member in this forum.
I` m looking for a similar equipment of the sony AV-CE series like AV 3420 CE, AV 3620 CE or AV 3670 CE.
I have a big collection of video tapes V-60H 5`` 1/2 inch, made by my mother in the early 70` s and I very much liked to preserve those images digitalizing them.
I` ve been looking on ebay and posting but with no results.
I live in Portugal and this old VCR`s were not very popular, only the public TV has one in the museum!!
Can anyone tell me were to buy one of this old videos recorder?

I thank you all in advance for your attention...

kiko

as436 · #13 03-07-2012, 04:11 PM

Hi everybody!
I'm a new member of this forum, I live in italy and my collection of brodcast equipment is very heavy
I like old tape recorders, in this week my toy is the sony AV 3420CE portable EJAJ 1/2 inch.... I have 3 vtr of the same model and same trouble, in play, ffwd ad rew mode the meter of battery il full, I press the tape sensor switch but the motor is dead, I have checked fuse, some switches and some capacitors.
The motor is ok I have tested with directly +12...

Please I need your help!!

Thanks everybody