1980 Magnavox VCR Repair with 1979 Magnavox Color TV

[@AstroSonic1967]

Chad - The RCA version was my first VCR I bought in 1979. I eventually gave it to the pastor of my church who needed a VCR. It was on the bottom of the TV stand and survived a small fire started by the instant on GE tube color TV. He was going to throw the VCR out. Nothing wrong with it, just a little smoke damage on the outside which cleaned off. I cleaned the heads and gave the VCR to a friend of mine and he used it for years. They were built like tanks.

[@PINKBOY1006]

I just love the sound of the video head spinning up.

[@FelicianoCookie]

And I thought that the VCR I bought back in 2001 was good quality (the door fell off but it still works like a charm)...this one is an amazing beast!! I kind of miss the one that my parents got in the late '80s...

[@brig.4398]

I used to work in a repair shop, the newer VCR's have a lot of plastic parts. We always kept a good supply of super glue to fix them. We'd glue the broken parts back together. of course things like gears you had to replace.

[@KLM817]

I still have my parents first VCR, it's a Sanyo from 1986. It still plays, but it won't record. Works 10 times better than my 12 year old RCA VCR.

[@BranislavDJ]

Man I love old electronics.I wish I could do the job you do. :D

[@HDXFH]

what a beast of a VCR!, i got an '81 NEC VCR, it needs all new rubber idlers!!, works well!!

[@piercejustin0]

i have a 1980s zenith vcr still works like a champ very fancy back in its day

[@HDXFH]

What a Beautiful looking TV!!

[@old64goat]

Back in 1978 I bought an RCA Selectivision VCR like that only it was SP & LP no SLP. From the day I bought it I had horz. sync problems with it on cable tv, the speed would change and the picture would go horz. and than go back to normal. I had it "fixed"by the RCA factory but it still did it, when they got it for service they could not find any problem. That was my first VCR, cost $1000 back than.

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

+old64goat Sounds like you had the model VBT-200 or VCT-200

[@old64goat]

201 as I recall, it weighed 40 pounds...LOL

[@bratina501]

I have one of these sitting in the living room and it works perfectly. The difference is the one I have is a Panasonic which leads me to believe that is actually rebadged as a Magnavox as it looks pretty much identical.

[@radiotvphononut]

There was the RCA version of that VCR at a junk store for something like $20. If it's still there the next time I go back, I may get it. Does that TV use the T995 chassis/delta gun CRT or does it uses the newer T815 chassis/in-line CRT? I think '79 was the year that Magnavox transitioned from delta gun to inline gun CRT's on their consoles.

[@DamusicianReturns]

i remember back in kindergarten (1991\92) my school had an RCA VCR very similar to that.

[@sk8ersbus1]

I recommend the book "Home VCR repair illustrated" by Richard/ Vicki Wilkins. I agree the older VCRs are built better and often seems justifiable to repair instead of buying new (especially any FUNAI products!!!!!!) I've never seen a VCR with mechanical push-buttons like that!!

[@pimpingmrli]

Can you tell me what type of bulb is behind the VHF/UHF channel #'s backlighting that display? I have a VCT 200 and a VDT 501...but I think they would be the same bulb. I want to find a replacement...and I don't know how to take the units apart myself. (Im getting my own parts together...and Im gonna take them to a TV repairman I know...who worked on these units back in the day.)

[@retrochad]

This is I believe an inline CRT...I have seen the delta gun versions too of Magnavoxes around this time period. I am not sure about the chassis, I have not opened it up to see.

[@koioo2]

in the past products where make to last nower days its just for a few years

[@RetroVintageItems27]

I really like that tv! I need to fix one of my VCR's so I can watch videos and record videos.

[@coolbluelights]

Nice VCR! I forgot they made them with actual keys on it like a tape recorder. that tv works really cool but ugh... the color and styling are just hideous imo lol

[@james42519]

how does this compare to those dvhs vcr? the ones that could record HD ahd 5.1 surround sound.

[@james42519]

i wish they had slp on vcrs still. a lot can play it but not record. i remember using that because it was better quality then lp but could record more then sp. why did they stop using that?

[@OlegKostoglatov]

It's probably still there unless they pitched it, if it is make them an offer, they are not exactly in high demand. I too have an early top loading RCA brand VCR around the same age as this Magnavox, I got it from the free pile at a garage sale along with a 1970 Toshiba made Sears colour TV like Doug has. It is ridiculous how overbuilt it is, it must weight 40 pounds.

[@23chilled]

i had one of the first front loading Hitachi VTR Vhs machines (pal) had linear stereo with dual displays. Loads of inputs/outputs. Would of been considered professional standard today. I had to give it away as parts a couple of years back as the heads went inside and couldnt find replacement parts. Tried worldwide and nowhere had them.

[@ddorfpunk]

this tv, so awesome O.o

[@thereelmaster]

I got one slightly newer than that vcr! mine has push button tuing. but ther than that, the same

[@TheMultiGunMan]

★★★★★

[@james42519]

now that is a white tv.