Found a U-Matic cheap.

[Eric H]

VCR on Steroids.

I picked this up several weeks ago but haven't had time to fool around with it until now.

A Sony VP5000 U-Matic VCR, got this for around $17, I could have had two of them but since I didn't even need one I left the other (it was marked "2" on the front so no doubt from the same studio or whatever).

I picked this one because it had all the correct screws in the lid and the plastic bumpers on the back.

It makes some rough noises when you put the tape in and it probably needs a good cleaning and lube but it does work!
Not bad getting what was once a mega dollar piece of Pro gear for pennies!

These pictures were fed to the little 9" Sony from the Video connection, I couldn't get anything from the R.F. connector but then I don't know what channel it operates on.

I have a tape I picked up a long time ago, it has a bunch of Commercials from around 1992 with the Directors name for each set so it was some kind of Demo tape I think.

Commercials include Disney World, Radio Shack, Panasonic Tru Flat TV's, Chevrolet, Honda X-Ray ad and a host of others.
There were a few others when I got this one but at the time I had no way to play them so didn't get them.

[ChrisW6ATV]

Fun machine. I have a late-1970s U-matic VCR (top loading style) that works, and I picked up some tapes on Ebay for it.

[Electronic M]

If the other one is still available, how much do you figure it would cost to ship one to the 53072 zip code?
If it is not too steep to ship maybe the one you did not buy could find a new home here.
One of my collecting tendencies is towards outdated and or unusual recording formats.

[Eric H]

The other one is gone.
Maybe when I get tired of this one I might pass it on to you.

[holmesuser01]

Depending on the modulator they used, if any, they either operated on ch 3, 4, or 5, 6. The modulator was an optional accessory.


I've got several U-Matic machines. Mostly Sony, but also have a couple of JVC units.

I started recording things with them in 1975, and still have a few things recorded from TV back then.

I got my FIRST stereo movie on 3/4" tape years before broadcast stereo TV came along. I just ran the audio through my stereo system.

Your front loader machine is light years newer than my machines. All top loaders.

MOST 3/4" machines record mono on channel 2 by default.

[Eric H]

This one doesn't seem to have a record function, guess it's just a player.

[holmesuser01]

Originally Posted by Eric H

This one doesn't seem to have a record function, guess it's just a player.

I bet it was a slave machine to the other one.

I'd love to own one of the newer front-load rack mount machines.

[mstaton]

That's what I miss about living in Los Angeles. You can find anything. I used to find all kinds of neat stuff. I used to find high end audio stuff and resell at the rose Bowl swap meet and make decent money. Nice score Eric.

[radiotvnut]

From '83-'88, when I was in elementary school, there were several older top loading Sony and Panasonic U-matic machines in use. Most of them were on a roll around cart that also contained a TV. Most of the TV's were 23" metal cabinet tube type RCA mural TV's that used the CTC39 chassis. These sets were commercial grade, used 3-wire power cords, and had all sorts of jacks for connecting external equipment. In the library, they had a newer early '80's Zenith 25" table model set connected to a U-matic machine.

Around '87, the school got a VHS VCR and the old U-matic machines started seeing less use. Most of what they had on U-matic format was educational material that was either recorded off of, or otherwise provided by, PBS.

Back then, there was not a TV in every room. There were a couple of sets in the library and probably two or three more that the teacher wouldl have to reserve in advance of needing it.

When I entered the 6th grade, they still had the roll around TV's; but, most of the sets were newer Zenith 25" sets by then and I recall everything being on VHS by that point.

Sometime during my 7th grade year, a company provided 19" Magnavox wall mounted TV's for each classroom with an elaborate CCTV system. In return, the school was to allow the students to vies a daily 12 minute "news" program called "channel one". And, if the teacher wanted the class to view a tape, all he/she had to do was ask the librarian to show the film in room #(whatever) at whatever time.

For some reason, one of the science rooms at the high school didn't get one of the newer TV's and it still had an old CTC39 RCA in there. By the mid '90's, that set was on it's last leg and didn't produce a very good picture.

So, that's my memory of U-matic tape machines.

[holmesuser01]

I've got a Sony VO-1600 out in my garage. It was built in 1972, and hasn't been turned on in years.

Also have a Ford branded Sony VO-1200 that has new heads on it. Also, hasn't been played in years.

The JVC machines are inside and connected to my system.

I've also got one of the last top load broadcast Sony's. It's highly advanced. I'll try to find a model # on it, and post it. It plays well, and locks on the control track of the tape within 1/2 second, usually.

[Dave A]

This is a very early player only. RF on these machines was a module inserted in the back. Look under the vertical cover on the back and see if it is in there. The module had the RF channel switch on it. No module...no RF.

And if anyone has a BVU-800 they want to part with, PM me.

[Harvestman]

I was going to ask if this was a 3/4" machine. It certainly looks durable.

My dad works at Procter & Gamble, and still has a 3/4" machine and a few tapes in his office. Last time I visited, he showed me a few rough cuts of commercials from 1983 or so. Very cool stuff.

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by Dave A

This is a very early player only. RF on these machines was a module inserted in the back. Look under the vertical cover on the back and see if it is in there. The module had the RF channel switch on it. No module...no RF.

And if anyone has a BVU-800 they want to part with, PM me.

Looked under that cover, no module. Oh well, Composite Video is better anyway.

I have seen U-Matic tapes in the past and wanted to get them, now that I have a player I'll probably never find any more.

[Dave A]

My fearless forecast.

U-matic tapes are the next best source of broadcast history from the late 70's to the mid 80's. They are the middle step from quad to 1" and were the archive choice for years at stations trying to preserve their quad recordings or live broadcasts of the day. And the archive choice of reporters everwhere trying to get a job in another market by sending out their 3/4" demo tape.

As 3/4" died, the tapes were bumped up to 1" for further archive but all you got was a good copy of a 3/4" tape. The quality loss was wonderfully preserved for today.

They do seem to have the same durability of VHS in my experience. Save 'em when you can find 'em, or send them to me.

[Eric H]

You guys might want to look in the Curbside Forum for the eBay $35 Portable U-Matic Recorder I just posted there.
Not mine, no affil etc...