Who still owns VCR's?

Hi Alex.

Yes I have a VCR. Not for everyday use but as an alternative signal source in my workshop. It's a Philips VR6585...the first NICAM VCR they sold in the UK. It uses a variation of the Panasonic 'G' deck. 

I have quite a few,see here

sideband said
Hi Alex.

 

Yes I have a VCR. Not for everyday use but as an alternative signal source in my workshop. It's a Philips VR6585...the first NICAM VCR they sold in the UK. It uses a variation of the Panasonic 'G' deck.   

Hi Sideband.

I know the model, it´s very good machine from around 1991/91 i think, i remember the late Panasonic G deck, Philips used the G9 deck in their first VHS model the VR6460, end their own who´s very similar to the V2000 system in VR 6462 from the same year (1984)

I have a Akai vs-9500eg, 

I also have the Hitachi, but it's on the roof for this summer, it has some problems with the logic touch buttons, a well known problems with Hitachi vcr’s and some B&O vhs machines.

And finally i have the clone of the Vr2022, mine is just a badge ITT,

i took a look under my bed and find the other VTR´s 😉

  Mitsubishi hs-302 (1982)           Orion vh200 (1984/85)             And Orion vc180 (same years)

       5 motors                                     Booth great and reliable machines in the cheap end         

 Skala (Jvc hr7600EG)1982         Sanyo vtc5150 (1983)               Sony Sl-c6 1982

                                                  inproved vtc5000                   Sony´s first frontloader   

Esselte (unknown manufactor, but it have the Panasonic G9 deck inside and 3 heads) moviebox, do you also have this machines in GB? this is the next generation in Denmark, the first ones was manufacted by Orion, very strong machines,this is from around 1988, and it still works fine

Alex 😉

Hi,

The only video recorder I have now is the Beocord VX7000 which is with the MX7000 TV set. It works well, but I only use it now and then to watch old tapes. A heavy and well made machine that in almost 25 years has never failed. Only needed to clean the heads once, and that was after using a cheap tape.

PYE625 said
Hi,

The only video recorder I have now is the Beocord VX7000 which is with the MX7000 TV set. It works well, but I only use it now and then to watch old tapes. A heavy and well made machine that in almost 25 years has never failed. Only needed to clean the heads once, and that was after using a cheap tape.  

Hi Pye625.

I know the vx7000, it´s a well made machine, actually its a Hitachi with B&O cover, i can´t remember, can you used the remothe to the vcr if the B&O TV set i off connection from the Scart cable? i know the v8000 can´t.

Ohh the cheap and thin tapes gave me a lot of problems back in days, my old Philips Vr6460 didn´t like the thinner tapes, 

Alex 😉

Hi Alex and all,

A year or two ago my local Salvation Army had a vintage display in their shop of 'not for sale' items which included a Ferguson 3V00 video recorder, I went in just as they were taking the display down . I asked them how much they wanted for the video recorder but they said they weren't allowed to sell it to me but asked if I could dispose of it for them in exchange for a £5 donation in their collection tin....how could I refuse.  

Anyway once I got it home I had a look inside to find the belts were stretched and needed replacing but just to check the machine I boiled the main belt in water and refitted it and the machine worked. A new belt kit was duly ordered and fitted and the Ferguson gets an outing now and again connected to my G11, can't beat the clunking and whirring of the old piano keys machines can you    

Marc.

acj1980 said

Hi Pye625.

I know the vx7000, it´s a well made machine, actually its a Hitachi with B&O cover, i can´t remember, can you used the remothe to the vcr if the B&O TV set i off connection from the Scart cable? i know the v8000 can´t.

Ohh the cheap and thin tapes gave me a lot of problems back in days, my old Philips Vr6460 didn´t like the thinner tapes, 

 

Alex 😉  

Hi, I believe the two have to be scart connected to enable functions from the BEO4 remote to be sent to the video. The TV then acts as a display for what the video is doing. 

acj1980 said

Hi Pye625.

I know the vx7000, it´s a well made machine, actually its a Hitachi with B&O cover

If I remember correctly (and I probably don't) it cost as much as a S-VHS recorder, around £700 in the UK. 

I've still got the Panasonic NH-S950 S-VHS machine I bought although it no longer works. The reason I didn't buy a Philips machine is that their S-VHS models didn't have NTSC playback at the time, although they did later.

ntscuser said

acj1980 said
Hi Pye625.

I know the vx7000, it´s a well made machine, actually its a Hitachi with B&O cover

If I remember correctly (and I probably don't) it cost as much as a S-VHS recorder, around £700 in the UK. 

Oh yes, the B&O was not cheap. That's one reason I'm determined to get maximum life from them  

So far, they are doing pretty well and the TV still has a great picture. The thing I really like is that the contrast varies in accordance with the room lighting, so on a bright day, it is increased. The tinted glass front helps viewing in this respect too. As for the sound quality, well it is beyond reproach for a TV set. In fact, this was a big selling point for me at the time.

The set is in the kitchen/dining area so is no longer my main set, although it still gets used daily. I have to use a digital set top box of course, now that we have no analogue transmissions.

marc said
Hi Alex and all,

the Ferguson gets an outing now and again connected to my G11, can't beat the clunking and whirring of the old piano keys machines can you    

Marc.

  

Hi Marc,

You've never heard an N1700 starting up -have you?

It's a wonder to behold and a delight to the ears. I know of no other VCR where you can hear the motor servos doing their thing - as sort gentle purring sound. I'd need to revisit the manual, but I think it's variable DC pulse width to the motors? and you can hear the 'burst' from the motors.

The sound from the gear ring as the tape threads up at the same time as the video head drum rotates forward to 'welcome' the tape (that's when you hear the servos) and a click & twang from the interlocks, allowing you press the keys.

It only takes a second or two, but is well worth watching and listening to.

Katie_Bush said

Hi Marc,

You've never heard an N1700 starting up -have you? 

Oh, I have... we used to have one as a second machine in conjunction with our Sony C5! And yes, I can hear the noises even now...

Hi Marion,

I seem to remember my dad fetching a Philips VCR home for a weekend from work sometime around 78 ish to have a play with but I can't remember if it was a 1500 or a 1700 but what I do remember was the threading up noise or maybe 'launch' might be a better phrase.

Marc. 

Doesn't qualify for vintage yet but is used for playing tapes over 30 years old having used VHS from the outset.

It's a Matsui VP 9408 which works perfectly. It's actually my OH's machine. The remote control no longer works which isn't a problem seeing it's used only for tape playback nowadays.

At one time the clock was synchronised, adjusting automatically with BST and GMT. Suddenly during 2012 this stopped working. I soon realised this feature was linked to the analogue broadcasts which ended that year.

It's used in conjunction with the recently acquired Sony RDR-HXS 890 HDD-DVD. recorder.

I also have a Ferguson FV10, one of the last JVC made machines. Works well as long as reverse picture search isn't used which causes tape damage.

Loved acj1980's photos of more JVC clones. I used to have a Telefunken VR520 which is electrically equivalent to the JVC HR7200 and Ferguson 3V29. The only difference is a VHF/UHF tuner which was great for DXTV. I still have some recordings directly from the VCR.

Brian

I haven't had a VCR for about 7 years, one or two family tapes I had were converted to DVD, those worked last time I tried them. We had a small collection of pre-recorded tapes but they were what Anita used to watch, not my type of material so those went to the charity shop.

The VCR seems to have had a popular (affordable) life of about 20 years, late 70's to late 90's when DVD recorders then Hard disc recorders took over, what's next to take the place of those?

Answers on a post card 

nuvistor said
The VCR seems to have had a popular (affordable) life of about 20 years, late 70's to late 90's when DVD recorders then Hard disc recorders took over, what's next to take the place of those?

I've been using a USB flashdrive for recording and playback for as long as I can remember now.

@crustytv

Hi, my name is Dave and I'm new to this site but not to video, something I've always had a keen interest in.

On reading your item on old video machines you own, I was immediately drawn to the fact you have, or did have, a working 2000 machine. Is this still the case? I have three 2000 cassettes from the early 80s, when I had a portable unit, that I'm keen to review, as theyre full of family stuff, and if possible save onto a more serviceable format.

Might you be able or interested in offering help or advice?

This is something I'm willing to pay for im not looking for freebies.

Thanks for reading this far

Dave

Sorry Dave, I'm unable to help. The V2000 machine needs a new head and has done for a few years, trouble is they are unobtainable now.

Your best bet is to contact Colin at Video99.co.uk he has a business transferring all the old media formats to whatever format you require. He can easily do what you want and is very reasonable, way cheaper than buying an old unknown machine, which is likely to not work. Drop him an e-mail or call him, all details are on his website.

Mod Note: 4 months later, not so much as a thank you for the info supplied or a return to the site to login. As such account removed, post assigned to anonymous account.

A couple years ago I went to a model railway exhibition in the local town, not one of my interest but I went to collect a book on local canals.

There were lots of working layout of trains but what caught my eye was hundreds of VHS tapes about railways both full size and model trains. I was there a couple of hours but didn’t see any tapes sold. I don’t know if VHS tapes can be recycled otherwise it’s a lot of landfill.

Has to why I stayed that long, I wanted my money’s worth, the man who had the book wanted £3, not a problem, he didn’t say it was £5 to get inside the building. ?