Just found a Sharp VHS from 1979

[Eric H]

In really good condition too but it has a problem or two.

This is a model VC-6800, brought it home, powered it up and couldn't get it to do anything except power on.

I spent an hour or so under and over the chassis and found several levers that were gummed up solid, cleaned and lubed them, also cleaned the belts, which are somewhat dry but still in decent shape.

Now it's still somewhat balky but it'll play a tape, the picture is snowy on half the screen because there isn't enough tension on the feed reel to keep it snug against the head, if I put a little drag on the tape with my finger I can get the picture to come in clear, I'm guessing another gummy lever somewhere keeping it from working right.

Surprisingly the FF and REW work OK.

This thing weighs 39 freaking Lbs!

It's really primitive, you open the door, push the tape in, then you press the Load button which causes the tape to drop down into position.