Old VCR's in the skip - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

IanNVJ35 · 8th Jun 2014, 11:10 pm

I must be a little bit psychic because on holiday down at West Bay I saw a skip today in the distance and it came to me 'Video 2000'. Not a likely think to see but I was right - also an early VCR machine. All items looked tired and damp has marred some areas but I thought I would share.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/12sv8vosks...608_185404.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0dxjv8lh1k...608_185454.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/etlkjw4vzr...608_185519.jpg

They deserve better really.

McMurdo · 8th Jun 2014, 11:13 pm

we always thought those 'cromdioxid' tapes seeme to wear the heads more than most

mark pirate · 8th Jun 2014, 11:21 pm

I would have saved the 1501, it does not look in too bad a shape. The V2000 looks pretty ill though!

Mark

Mikey405 · 9th Jun 2014, 6:57 am

Hmmm. Both of those are pretty rare - even among machines of their type. The V2000 is the Pye version of the Philips VR2023 and that's the first one I've ever seen. The N1501 is slightly more common but still quite rare. What a shame they're both in a skip.

IanNVJ35 · 9th Jun 2014, 8:25 am

It's upset me to see such nice and well built items discarded so, and were it not for the fact that water has soaked the inside after recent rain they would have been worth rescuing. The head on the VCR was jammed on its bearing so definitely useful for spares only.

mark pirate · 9th Jun 2014, 8:30 am

I would not worry about water damage, I have rescued both TV's and video's that have been out in the rain, I usually go over the insides with a hair dryer and leave in a warm place for a few days to thoroughly dry out.
Unless they have been soaked for weeks on end, they are usually fine.

Mark

8 Tracker · 9th Jun 2014, 9:17 am

I can second that. Years ago I picked up a Philips portable V2000 machine and its' tuner from the dump (VR2220, I think). It was raining at the time and when I picked up the machine, the water just poured out of it. I took it back to work and left it in an oven at about 40 deg. C overnight. By next morning it was totally dry. It must have been wet for a little while as the metal screening cans had begun to turn rusty. However, it worked a treat and still does. I've had it for about fourteen years now.

Mark.

ben · 9th Jun 2014, 11:04 pm

I'd have grabbed the lot without a second thought!
Admittedly the N1500 would be the first thing I'd save just because it's one of the few formats I haven't got one of (yet).

electronicskip · 13th Jun 2014, 2:22 pm

Knowing me, I would have saved the lot, and got it in the neck from the Mrs.

IanNVJ35 · 13th Jun 2014, 2:46 pm

I went back but they must have been somewhere damp as all interior metal including the head was rough and rust pitted. Being close to the sea hasn't helped either. Shame.

Sanbeta · 19th Jun 2014, 6:52 pm

I agree
The sad thing is, nowadays a lot look at magnetic video technology as 'old tat' and only fit for the dump, now that they have their new discs and downloading.

Shame, especially after all the work and research that got them working as well as they do (or did).

Kev

8th Jun 2014, 11:10 pm	#1
IanNVJ35 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 848	Old VCR's in the skip I must be a little bit psychic because on holiday down at West Bay I saw a skip today in the distance and it came to me 'Video 2000'. Not a likely think to see but I was right - also an early VCR machine. All items looked tired and damp has marred some areas but I thought I would share. https://www.dropbox.com/s/12sv8vosks...608_185404.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/0dxjv8lh1k...608_185454.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/etlkjw4vzr...608_185519.jpg They deserve better really.

8th Jun 2014, 11:13 pm	#2
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,274	Re: Old VCR's in the skip we always thought those 'cromdioxid' tapes seeme to wear the heads more than most __________________ Kevin

8th Jun 2014, 11:21 pm	#3
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Old VCR's in the skip I would have saved the 1501, it does not look in too bad a shape. The V2000 looks pretty ill though! Mark

9th Jun 2014, 6:57 am	#4
Mikey405 Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Solihull, West Midlands and Beaford, Devon Posts: 1,626	Re: Old VCR's in the skip Hmmm. Both of those are pretty rare - even among machines of their type. The V2000 is the Pye version of the Philips VR2023 and that's the first one I've ever seen. The N1501 is slightly more common but still quite rare. What a shame they're both in a skip. __________________ G7TRF

9th Jun 2014, 8:25 am	#5
IanNVJ35 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 848	Re: Old VCR's in the skip It's upset me to see such nice and well built items discarded so, and were it not for the fact that water has soaked the inside after recent rain they would have been worth rescuing. The head on the VCR was jammed on its bearing so definitely useful for spares only.

9th Jun 2014, 8:30 am	#6
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Old VCR's in the skip I would not worry about water damage, I have rescued both TV's and video's that have been out in the rain, I usually go over the insides with a hair dryer and leave in a warm place for a few days to thoroughly dry out. Unless they have been soaked for weeks on end, they are usually fine. Mark

9th Jun 2014, 9:17 am	#7
8 Tracker Hexode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 286	Re: Old VCR's in the skip I can second that. Years ago I picked up a Philips portable V2000 machine and its' tuner from the dump (VR2220, I think). It was raining at the time and when I picked up the machine, the water just poured out of it. I took it back to work and left it in an oven at about 40 deg. C overnight. By next morning it was totally dry. It must have been wet for a little while as the metal screening cans had begun to turn rusty. However, it worked a treat and still does. I've had it for about fourteen years now. Mark.

9th Jun 2014, 11:04 pm	#8
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Old VCR's in the skip I'd have grabbed the lot without a second thought! Admittedly the N1500 would be the first thing I'd save just because it's one of the few formats I haven't got one of (yet). __________________ Regards, Ben.

13th Jun 2014, 2:22 pm	#9
electronicskip Nonode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK. Posts: 2,150	Re: Old VCR's in the skip Knowing me, I would have saved the lot, and got it in the neck from the Mrs.

13th Jun 2014, 2:46 pm	#10
IanNVJ35 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 848	Re: Old VCR's in the skip I went back but they must have been somewhere damp as all interior metal including the head was rough and rust pitted. Being close to the sea hasn't helped either. Shame.

19th Jun 2014, 6:52 pm	#11
Sanbeta Hexode Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 256	Re: Old VCR's in the skip I agree The sad thing is, nowadays a lot look at magnetic video technology as 'old tat' and only fit for the dump, now that they have their new discs and downloading. Shame, especially after all the work and research that got them working as well as they do (or did). Kev