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  #1  
Old 03-30-2011, 04:38 PM
Tim R. Tim R. is offline
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Oldest VCR you've owned?

I currently own a Mitsubishi HS-300U VCR from 1981. It's really heavy and built like a tank. It still works well after 30 years, although one day I need to open it up and do a little TLC.

I don't have a picture of it (it's at home, a long way from here), but the video below has the same model. Surprisingly there was zero info anywhere about this VCR, except for the Youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH4xylRiBng

Not shown is the optional brick-sized remote and its receiver, which plugs into the back of the VCR and has a few feet of cable so you can position it for best reception. Mine came with both, which I guess is a rare find.

It's a great setup and goes well with my Zenith TV of about the same vintage - also working great, despite my Grandma using it daily for 25 years.


What is the oldest VCR you have? I have yet to find anything that predates this beast.


-Tim
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  #2  
Old 03-31-2011, 10:32 AM
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Ed in Tx Ed in Tx is offline
Zenith Walton My 1st TV
 
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I worked on those when they were current. Not fun to work on! Talk about a rats nest of wires! They have 5 motors: Two reel motors, a loading motor, capstan motor and head cylinder motor. I remember the remote unit that went with those too. Probably some pieces of one in a box at the old shop I worked at.

Last edited by Ed in Tx; 03-31-2011 at 10:38 AM.
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Old 03-31-2011, 04:43 PM
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Electronic M Electronic M is offline
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My oldest VCR is a 77' Zenith jr-9000w two speed Betamax top loader with orig dust cover (the handle on the speed switch was broke off though), bought it at the ARCI donation auction for a whopping 1$. After lubing a stuck (still not too good) motor I was able to get monochrome video with red blue and purple noise which soon disapeared and left me with just mono video and audio . I'll start a resotration thread after I finish some projects I have going.

My oldest VTR is either a circa 1975 Sony AV-5000A or a Concord (can't remember the model #) both use the EAIJ reel to reel monochrome video recording standard (hence Video Tape Recorder VTR instead of Video Cassette Recorder VCR), though the Sony has non-standard color capabilities(if you are curious check out this link labguysworld.com/Sony_AV-5000A.htm.

Got some other vintage decks, but I think I'll limit it to the oldest.

Tom C.
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  #4  
Old 03-31-2011, 07:50 PM
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Eric H Eric H is offline
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I have a 1979 Sharp, bought it recently for cheap just because it's big and old.
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  #5  
Old 04-01-2011, 08:30 PM
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Aussie Bloke Aussie Bloke is offline
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My oldest video recorder is a 1967 Sony CV-2100CE 1/2" CV format reel-reel videotape recorder http://www.troysvintagevideo.741.com/cv2100.html . I rescued it from a local scrap metal/vintage electronics recycle centre and it is cosmetically in great shape and powers up and functions well mechanically, once tried to record a picture on it but got no picture playback so I guess it's probably not fully functional. I also have a spare video head for it as well.
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Old 04-02-2011, 07:11 PM
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ChrisW6ATV ChrisW6ATV is offline
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I own a 1976 Sony model LV-1901, combination one-hour Betamax VCR and 19" color TV.
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  #7  
Old 04-02-2011, 08:34 PM
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Blast Blast is offline
blast, blast...
 
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I've still got my old Pana-built Quasar that a customer declined an estimate on in the 90's. His loss.

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  #8  
Old 04-04-2011, 12:40 AM
waltchan waltchan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric H View Post
I have a 1979 Sharp, bought it recently for cheap just because it's big and old.
I believe it's the Sharp VC-6800 you mentioned earlier. This one was also the oldest VCR I used to own. Sold it for $330 shipped 4 years ago.
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Old 04-04-2011, 12:43 AM
waltchan waltchan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blast View Post
I've still got my old Pana-built Quasar that a customer declined an estimate on in the 90's. His loss.
His loss, yes, but 90s VCR had already reached $150, and he thought that a 16 year old VCR reached the end of lifespan (not really for this one).
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  #10  
Old 04-16-2011, 11:05 PM
arbilab arbilab is offline
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Sanyo's first Betacord. Knob tuner, BII only, drum servo only (brake), circa 1976, almost entirely discrete components.

At the time, only Beta with built-in electronic/LED clock. Sony's were the mechanical flip-clocks like their clock radios, an accessory that sat on top. Sold in 1981.
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  #11  
Old 04-17-2011, 11:26 AM
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Trance88 Trance88 is offline
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The oldest VCR I ever owned was a 1984 top loading JVC with big multi-colored buttons on the front. I got it in 2005. It had several blown fuses in it when I got it. I replaced the fuses but I only got it to play once. Threw it out.
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Last edited by Trance88; 04-17-2011 at 11:32 AM.
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  #12  
Old 04-17-2011, 11:45 AM
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Jeffhs Jeffhs is offline
<----Zenith C845
 
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My oldest VCR (now long gone, heads failed in 1990) was a 1984 GE top-loading VHS machine built by Panasonic. It had 12-position tuning (thumbwheel-tuned 83-channel electronic tuning system), three speeds, wired remote, and it worked quite well for me the six years I owned it. I'd have kept it a bit longer if not for the fact that a local TV shop gave me a $250 estimate to repair it.
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Collecting, restoring and enjoying vintage Zenith radios since 2002

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  #13  
Old 08-07-2011, 11:59 AM
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reelman1968 reelman1968 is offline
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the oldest vcr I ever had was an RCA Selectavision VBT 200 VHS. Hand me down when my father replaced it with one with a Selectavision 650. One of the first with a wireless remote. The 200 Is long gone. but still have several tapes that were recorded on it. Including a 1977 Elvis Concert with 1970's Commercials. Had only 2 Speeds SP and LP would not play SLPor EP tapes. Tank of a unit.
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  #14  
Old 10-05-2011, 12:53 AM
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cbenham cbenham is offline
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Still have my JVC HR-3300, the very first VHS deck from 1977. It has full width [59 Micron] video heads and still works fine.
Cliff
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  #15  
Old 10-17-2011, 06:42 PM
sweitzel sweitzel is offline
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Oldest deck I ever owned was a Panasonic PV-1200 that my folks bought from Sears in 1980. I had it up to 2004 and it still played fine. Needed to downsize so I gave it away. I wish I still had it.
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