Sears Betamax VCR from 1979 - AKA Sanyo Betacord Model VTC 9100A

[@brownfranklin]

Many years ago, my father had a Betamax. We also had a VHS machine. One time, when I was about 16, I took a Beta tape apart and put the reels inside of a VHS cartridge. The program was recorded on a beta machine and while the audio worked (though wobbly), the picture looked like the horizontal hold was well out of adjustment. I used a small black and white tv that had a long range horizontal hold adjuster. I was able to correct it and what I got was a picture who's top started in the middle of the tv screen and there were huge thick lines of picture, instead of the 530 lines. When the picture change, it changed gradually from line to line, rather than instantly.

[@InsanePsychoRabbit]

Before I was born, my parents were a Betamax household. They didn't switch to VHS until the writing was well and truly on the wall, and even then, they gave all their Betamax supplies to someone who was more heavily invested in the format.

[@TremiRodomi]

The color striping you see is definitely Macrovision at it's work.

[@doogie812]

What a find for $5.00. That is one clean machine!

[@clydesight]

Great Video! I love seeing the inside of these units, the engineering is just amazing! But, what a torturous tape path! Can you imagine an audio recorder trying to deal with it? Amazing that after all this time, the recorder still works. A testament to a quality build.

[@databits]

***** For sure, thanks for watching.

[@TheSkullArmyMC]

***** Actually, here's a little fun fact: As surprising as this seems, that tape loading mechanism, which Sony called the "U-Load (after the U-matic, of course), is actually less stressful than the other tape threading mechanisms. For example, that is why most Betas thread the tape as soon as it's in there. Most VHS machines (made before the 90s) did not thread the tape until you pressed play, becaused the "M-load" mechanism was more stressful than Sony's engineering. Just a little food for thought.

[@clydesight]

TheSkullArmyMC I am confused. I saw on another channel that the reason for not loading the tape all the way into the system (on VHS) was to make fast forward and rewind work more efficiently on a VHS machine and to put less stress on the tape. Cue and Review did keep the tape in the path, for obvious reasons. Is this what you are referring to? Thanks.

[@TheSkullArmyMC]

It may be because of what you said, but the "M-load" is more stressful than "U-load" for sure. JVC may have been aware of it, but most likely wouldn't tell the consumer that. I think people found out eventually, though.

[@clydesight]

TheSkullArmyMC Yeah, interestingly, I have had commercial VHS tapes that went bad after about 10 viewings, while I have some store bought do-it-yourself tapes that just play and play and play! So I bet some VHS tapes were not made as well as others.

[@haroldalexis4200]

Everything old is new again. Through out the VCR career i only had 📼 VHS. BETA was robbed! I wish now after viewing i owned one. Very great video. I enjoyed viewing.

[@mbvideoselection]

I'm a sucker for these sideboard-snuggling contraptions! I wouldn't want my Akai CR-81D eight-track recorder to get jealous though!

[@databits]

BizMarkUK No issues...the two would purr together.

[@The_Laser_Channel]

I grew up in a small city of about 40,000 people and nowhere did i ever run across any place that was selling a Beta VCR....put an ad on Craigslist and got NOTHING.....then when I moved to a bigger city, I asked a friend of he knew of a place that might have a Beta and he scoffed and laughed at me...he was so sure that I wasn't going to find one, that he said "i'll tell you what, if you find a Beta VCR in this month, I will buy it for you"....and sure enough, I posted an ad on craigslist saying I was wanting one and within 2 days I had someone message me saying they had a working Sony Betamax with remote and about 40 tapes for $40....my friend kept his word so it cost me $0 LOL....this was about 5 years ago and I still have the machine in working condition and hooked up to my TV now. Its a Sony SL-2401 model :)

[@databits]

That's an awesome story! I should hit my friends up with such offers, maybe I could pay less for my vintage tech that I collect!! The Sears one in this video I sold online.

[@zhaohaigaogu7821]

The inside is very beautiful!👍

[@kc4cvh]

9:10 That's the motor which drives the head disc via a flat belt, an arrangement seen in a very few 1st generation VCRs. About thirty-five years ago I worked on a monster VHS deck with a flat belt drive atop the head drum, all others were directly driven by a DC brushless motor mounted below.

[@sinrob1]

That "whopping" $695 was actually cheap in 1979, since Sanyo/Sears units were low end and cheaply made. A Sony equivalent was $1,000 back in the day.

[@Kit_Bear]

So what's that in modern money, $4K? That's some serious money for something that'll lose out to VHS. If I spent that sort of money only for it to be obsolete (Somewhat) in 5 years I'd be seriously pissed off!

[@ed10523]

My First Beta-max Experience was Watching Michael Jackson's Thriller Music Video back in 1983. Thanks For Showing this piece of History to Us. I am a great fan of your channel, and cant wait for more blasts from the past. Cheers!

[@CoopyKat]

I LOVE these kind of videos, it's so cool to see old technology that was originally considered high-tech ("state of the art" as they said in the 80's, much to my annoyance)

[@databits]

+CoopyKat - thanks for your compliments!

[@CoopyKat]

+databits No problem, it was fun to see these old machines again after all these years

[@databits]

Thanks for your note! I've heard of Macrovision but didn't know it could be built into a DVD player. Good information!

[@swinde]

3:52 ALL VCR are built with the heads rotating and the drum stationary. There were some models that the top of the drum assembly rotated with the heads, but the drum itself is always stationary.

[@Gljin40509]

The threading of the tape all the way around the drum (called "M" load) was what gave beta its video superiority over VHS more than anything else...the heads read the tape more times per inch than VHS.

[@swinde]

VHS had the "M" load. The Betamax used what was called "Omega load".

[@lacitysun]

I wish the camera would shake a little more

[@gavincurtis]

Video was made in California.

[@DesertPhxStudio]

That's the first VCR I bought. BTW, all Beta machines had the heads move in between the head drum. Only VHS machines had the upper drum move with the heads, which is one of the reasons that Beta machines were much easier on tapes than VHS. The lines in the picture are most likely from the copy guard on the DVD producing them on the dub. Not anything to do with the tape or VCR.

[@RyanSchweitzer77]

@ Databits: The reason why those lines are showing up in your Beta recording from your DVD player, is due to the Macrovision copy protection built-in to most DVD players (which can be disabled on some players through hidden menus). The lines you're seeing are what's referred to as "Macrovision Colorstripe" protection, which messes with the chroma (color) signal of the video. Here's a link with more info: kaiserthesage -dot- hubpages -dot- com/hub/What-is-Macrovision

[@Spacekriek]

4:58 Caught you out there ! They use 1/2 inch, not 1 inch video tape. That would be tough fitting it into the cassettes !

[@databits]

Woops you caught me!

[@burmiester1]

Even U-Matic only gets to 3⁄4 of an inch lol

[@martinfinn1550]

Back in the day I owned both Beta and VHS machines. The Beta had the advantage that once a cassette was loaded in, the tape laced up to the video drum immediately which meant it played a tape back almost instantaneously the play button was depressed. With the VHS it wasn't automatic, it took longer for the picture to appear after the play button was depressed because the tape had to lace up to the video head first. Otherwise the picture quality was very similar for both machines.

[@mathewbailey8645]

I'd want to see you you get hold of & demonstrate either or both 2 inch quadruplex or 1 inch type C equipment,both reel to reel video formats. There are also portable versions of both types of equipment.

[@databits]

+Mathew Bailey - that would be a lot of fun. If I ever run across those I will.

[@3Cr15w311]

Could be the "color striping" part of Macrovision causing the lines you mentioned. They alter the phase of the color and color burst. A TV sees the out-of-phase color burst and corrects but as I read somewhere, a heterodyne color machine such as VHS, Beta, U-Matic, doesn't record the color burst, just the out of phase color and generates a correct in phase color burst on playback so that the out of phase color does not get corrected, resulting in the color changing on affected scan lines on playback of the recording.

[@patrickjohnson5658]

I had a betamax recorder years ago similiar to this and what I remember most was when the video heads got dirty and I could no longer see a clear picture, I would open up the top and place a piece of loo paper lightly over the video heads and rotate them slowly by turning the motor backwards and forwards slightly and it always did the trick cleaning the video heads.

[@databits]

Sounds like a good method.

[@randywatson8347]

I grew up with vhs but recently had interest in betamax. I recently aquired a TT-F1e tuner + SL-F1e and a KV6000BE. All stands the 30 years of time, but only the display on the tuner had completely faded. Having a great time with betamax 😃

[@databits]

Nik Neuy Betamax for the win!

[@captain150]

That is a massive head motor. I wonder why it's so big? I'm guessing it's partly for the additional inertia in the large motor makes it easier to have a stable head rotation rate.

[@5argetech56]

Looks so retro with the coffee cup ring.. Bomb proof.

[@toddstewart9070]

I remember this unit. it really is big and bulky like no vcr I have ever seen in person. I have also seen a Sears VHS unit from around the same era (maybe 2 or 3 years newer) that was just as big and bulky with the manual V/U channel knobs. My father bought us a Hitachi VT-11A 1982 model, that was our 1st vcr. I believe it costed 500-600 of 1982 dollars if i recall right. He still has repair manual schematic book for it.

[@HD7100]

I take it that you do not have a small collection of Beta tapes? "U" load (BETA) verses "M" load (VHS). I believe there is a light transponder that reflects off the metallic ends of the tape. The Sony Super Beta Hi-Fi machines were some of the finest home video tape machines you could get. I had one that I used for recording live audio years back. You are building a nice "defunct media" collection. Thanks for sharing. Gary

[@Jamesnov1970]

No, Because of the way the AGC (Automatic Gain Control) works with the Beta format, the Macrovision copy-protection system is not effective on Beta. The times I seen those line was when I used VHS tape on a beta, but went away when I recorded over the first recording I made on the Betamax with the VHS tape. I have also copied DVD's that had Macrovision and it had no effect, but had an effect on my VHS machine.

[@billjoe39]

8:22 lines on the playback picture could be from Macrovision from the dvd or dvd player....i noticed that once on a tape i recorded.

[@RyanSchweitzer77]

No problem, glad I can help. I have to say, you scored a steal for this VCR, and especially since it's fully working for its age!

[@Kit_Bear]

It's not unusual for pre 2000's tech to still be working today. 80's tech for example was expensive but it was very reliable. They were over engineered because the stuff that was in the 70's generally had a high failure rate due to the technology being in it's infancy but it was usually the copycat lower end brands that did thereby inflicting injury on the higher end products. One needs to remember that back then most of the parts were mechanical and switch driven. They used very little microchips because they were expensive and had their problems. In the later years of the 80's they became microprocessor/IC based to control timers, better picture stability and quality etc... so became less expensive and more feature heavy, And most importantly more compact. The only ones that were prone to failure really were the cheaper brands Quality wasn't exactly top of their list. The top branded products are still working quite well today albeit with a little servicing as you would expect.

[@databits]

I only have a few Beta tapes (so far). Thanks for your comment, Gary.

[@AussieTVMusic]

I had the next model Sanyo Betacord. It weighed a ton and was $600 AU in 1981. But it had a corded pause button so it was worth the price.

[@Betamax19732]

great video i love Betamax

[@eric-janvandenbogaard9415]

I just watched this video, an amazing Betamax VCR, i noticed, that the drum does not spin while in "STOP" mode ? but the motor does spin at that time, must be quiet a construction, and solid as it survived over that time period, i wish i ever owned a Betamax VCR, (nice loading system, but maybe more wear and tear on the tape?) our first VCR was a Hitachi VT-8000, it had tip touch, though it was still a top loader, i very much liked the design ! though piano keys has it's charm too ! great video about this "Sears" model ! btw... the Sting tape was perfect .. no stripes !

[@databits]

Thanks, I agree! I need to try making a tape from a source without Macrovision!

[@musicnerd72]

Still trying to get over a belt driven video head... I never knew that existed... pretty cool though.

[@databits]

Craziest concept ever.

[@defanged9630]

Sweet. A belated congratulations on your bargain purchase. Wow this machine is clean. Did you spruce it up or did you just get lucky? It looks immaculate. They were solid builds.

[@databits]

What you see is how I found it. Pretty cool huh?

[@defanged9630]

databits Bloody beautiful! A very nice score.

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

This is the first piece of technology i remember using myself... i was 4 in 1979, and i have no idea how my family afforded this (my wealthy grandparent maybe?) but i remember watching a news recording we'd made from tv of John Lennon's assassination that was released within a month of his death, end of 1980. i watched that recording over and over and over again (secretly because my parents thought it was a kinda morbid obsession for a 5 year old) :) But the clunk of the 'piano keys' (my kid-word for that was 'lever-button'), the ku-CHUNK of the tape tray slamming into the machine resonating through my ears because i was so short i was literally at eye-level with the tray when i used it... Happy Memories; thanks for this, man :)

[@databits]

Hey! Thanks for sharing YOUR memories of this machine!

[@Jamesnov1970]

Betamax, used its AGC in a different manner and was immune to Macrovision

[@Rudolf_Edward]

i had a FISHER Beta VCR. With EXACT the same components. Also a tank. A PAL (European) version. Love the specs! And, of course: the machine….

[@pimpingmrli]

The tuner isnt totally useless today. It can still record off tv with a dtv box.

[@databits]

Okay every channel but channel 3 is useless. :)

[@KlonoaTorqueBow]

Unfortunately, the 9100A can only play and record in BII mode... But! I seem to have bought a 9100A that doesn't mention anything about Beta II on it. Could it be a prototype, or early-model 9100A?

[@ldchappell1]

Betamax is a great format. I used my 1983 tax refund to buy a Panasonic. I think I paid about $450 for it. It was heavy and built like a tank. I certainly got my money's worth out of it. I used it for almost 20 years. I watched a LOT of baseball games on that baby. Go Giants.

[@databits]

+ldchappell1 - just $450? Haha thanks for sharing your story!

[@pchelovekPV]

@databits do you by any chance have sanyo cvp721ft projector in your possession? maybe manuals or any info on where to find them?

[@gerryroberts662]

I got my beta used in 2006.. I love the audio feature.,,,

[@databits]

The audio dub feature?

[@rosaaquino9368]

Hey !! We just bought a beta vision and we are unable to see the video clearly like there's a lot of static. How do you properly clean the video heads?

[@jakejp74]

nice work on the video

[@TheSkullArmyMC]

You should've definitely kept that. I've got an SL-25, and I'm not letting it go anytime soon!

[@databits]

TheSkullArmyMC When you get tired of it, just send it my way! :D

[@TheSkullArmyMC]

That may be a while. It still works, and as long as it works, I'm going to get a lot of use out of that thing. I've already recorded 40+ tapes since July 2014, and hope to record a lot more on it.

[@AnagramFoilBalloonFan]

8:12 the first dvd player by sony from 1996?

[@unitedunitedunited_]

Kinda ironic that he was showing a promo video for dvd on a Betamax machine

[@AlessandroCussino]

That is a SOLID MACHINE !!!

[@hardcoreconfederate5167]

How do you hook up a beta player is it the same as hooking up av cables.

[@TheRealAndreasBartel]

Got this as a PAL model from Fisher, VBS-7000 Works out of the box after decades It was also sold by a coffee retailer called Tchibo in Germany, becoming the first VCR under 1000DM TV/Radio stores became furious, trying to stop this and started selling coffee cheaper... Anyway today every store sells everything today. You can by iPhones from Aldi for example

[@pHD77]

This is the first Beta playback I've seen without a ton of dropouts. I've had a few Sony units, both top loaders as well as front-loading units (all PAL system). I've had the C7, C20, C30 and the SL-F1. The last one did the best job covering up dropouts, but still noticeable, though. However, that Sting tape looks quite unused, so it might just look pristine because it has never or hardly ever been played back.

[@databits]

Thanks for your comments!

[@RyanSchweitzer77]

Actually, that's not true. Since regular Macrovision pulses are embedded in functional components of the recorded video signal (regular Macrovision pulses are in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of the video, and "colorstripe" Macrovision pulses are embedded in the color subcarrier of the video), it can be used with, and can affect, any video recording format. It can be used on Beta, but I don't know if it was widely implemented. Laserdisc is the only home video format not to use (cont.)

[@Dewotto]

I have a SL-5400 and the tuner has a problem with the audio cutting out which makes it very hard to record with. Do you what could be wrong with the tuner?

[@databits]

Could be a dirty selector switch (Camera/Line/TV). Otherwise I don't know the answer to that. Maybe someone else will chime in. Thanks for watching.

[@TheFridyone]

Great ... You are truly wonderful

[@databits]

I know. Haha.

[@robertwhite9898]

Awesome machine 😊

[@mikemoyercell]

The lines are the macrovision from your DVD - Nothing to do with the Beta Machine. Its copy protection.

[@databits]

Thanks! Agreed!

[@flytechbass1979]

Originally retailed for $1399 in 1976 the Sony was $1599 and only recorded 1 hour

[@abergethirty]

The spinning heads is why it was so good at slow mo, fast-forwarding, and moving frame by frame. Despite their commercial failure, they still had a strong market in the video editing circles. Faster computers and large capacity HD's finally made them obsolete, not VHS.

[@jasinere35]

built to last too along with the ability of repairing the machine yourself

[@TheTarrMan]

Those lines might have something to do with the frequency of the dvd media you recorded onto the tape. (My best guess)

[@Jamesnov1970]

That only affected VHS, Beta was not affected by Macrovision.

[@kraig8812]

I wish I had a player like that.

[@mrmagnetoscope]

Me I don't find this at Value Village.

[@Boemel]

Cool vcr, id love to have this, i have the 5000 which was only $299 :p

[@databits]

Tom Jacobs - It was a really fun VCR!

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

The 5000 is my main Betamax! I also have a VTC 9350 but it needs some work :(

[@christronicsdereksrandomness36]

The only thing i can think of about why theres lines on the video is because the content you were recording was copyrighted. I once recorded a dvd onto vhs using my playstation 2 as the dvd player and the tape had those same lines. I could be wrong but thats my only guess as to why theres those lines on the video.

[@databits]

ChrisDerekKyle LeeCharlandHassen It's possible.

[@TheDzhoel]

do you know the reliability of this particular machine?

[@scottstrang1583]

I think that's was called omega wrap or something like that. Does that unit have a belt driven head drum?

[@databits]

It does, yes.

[@Chud_springfield]

I need a betamax vcr for my video camera and it's going to be hell trying to find one lmao

[@burntoutelectronics]

never thought i would fined someone else who has a analog tv transmitter

[@photomitch]

We had a Sony equivalent and after a year, the belts kept breaking and had to be replaced. The machine was a total pain in the ass. We got a front loading Beta HIFI machine later that lasted a long time...

[@databits]

+Mitch Walker - Those Sony's were also built like tanks!

[@photomitch]

+databits It was, but the drive belt kept breaking...

[@LowBudgetProductions]

Beta and VHS actually use a 1/2" tape, not a 1" tape.

[@supermasterPIK]

Real machines. Made like TANKS. You used to set it in the same place during years, because moving it around could cause an hernya..!! 25 kgs?

[@databits]

Yes, many hernias were caused by this massive beast.

[@TommyAgramonSeth]

As for someone who never even seen a Betamax tape, how's the quality compared to VHS?

[@databits]

Beta was considered by most to be superior to VHS.

[@TommyAgramonSeth]

Interesting, thanks for the answer. One would wonder why it wasn't as popular as VHS.

[@Gljin40509]

The popularity of VHS over Beat was mostly due to the fact that a 2 hour movie fit perfectly on a T-120 VHS tape,whereas most beta tapes,at least the early ones,were limited to a little over one hour(we`re talking at the "Standard" or highest quality speed here....not EP speed)

[@ashleyschooneman2998]

love beta

[@josemezatorrez]

Can you still buy blank beta tapes to record from a modern TV?

[@databits]

Jose Luis Meza Torres On ebay, yes.

[@josemezatorrez]

Great.Thanks

[@GrizzlyDipper614]

Goggle MisterBetamax

[@ashleyschooneman2998]

what is the weight of it?

[@joseorozco4114]

It's still a nice betamax player.

[@tdrewman]

Has a big old cup ring on the top of the case, guess the person that had owned it never heard of coasters .

[@jeffk7734]

I have heard good and bad things over the years when it comes to Betamax units that were made by Saniel.

[@crapcbm]

Beta was great, but can't beat the Video2000 :D

[@databits]

+crapcbm - I want a Video 2000!

[@rollercoastermaniac2]

I was just watching the dvd ad thing, and most of it was true, but when they said sound is better I nearly fell on the floor with laughter. Both Beta and VHS HiFi are uncompressed analog audio with linear recording on a really good medium, DVD is compressed MPEG audio which is NEVER as good. although with surround sound and tracking, DVD beats both any day.

[@MaximRecoil]

>DVD is compressed MPEG audio which is NEVER as good. Even though MPEG audio (AKA: MPEG-1 Audio Layer II, AKA: MP2) is supported by the DVD standard, I have never encountered a commercial DVD which had an MP2 track, at least not here in NTSC land. MP2 decoding isn't even a required function on NTSC DVD players. By far the most common audio format for DVD is AC-3 (AKA: Dolby Digital), typically either in stereo (2.0) at 192 kbps or 5.1 surround at 448 kbps. DVD also supports uncompressed PCM (48 or 96 kHz, 16- or 24-bit, 2 to 6 channels, or up to 8 channels for 48 kHz, 16-bit). 48 kHz, 16-bit uncompressed PCM is slightly beyond CD quality, and 96 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed PCM is well beyond CD quality. VHS or Betamax Hi-Fi Stereo is a bit below CD quality, and is, of course, limited to 2 channels. DVD supports DTS as well, which is a compressed format that's better quality than AC-3 or MP2.

[@luigi2999]

You know betacam s tapes will work in a Betamax, but the recordings won't.

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

You mean betacam sp right? These tapes have metal particles and they would destroy the betamax heads unless if it's an ED Beta VCR. The only betamax VCRs that support BETA SP tapes

[@soundman447]

Why mess with it is you want to play Beta sp buy a UVW-1200 they are dirt cheap

[@GrizzlyDipper614]

Betacam tapes do record on a beta VCR. But, Betacam SP tapes won't!

[@InsanePsychoRabbit]

12:04 I don't think it's physically possible to throw something that big across the room

[@abhineshsethumadhava]

Really good quality on Betamax compared to VHS

[@databits]

For sure, quite a tank!

[@dianem4477]

I have this machine. Debating about keeping it or selling it. Still works, just don't use it anymore.

[@databits]

+Diane Mathias - I sold mine and did pretty well. About $100 if I remember. Shipping was rather high being it's so heavy.

[@mitch19636]

That HEAVY machine was made by Sanyo...

[@jasinere35]

wrong tape format btw that's why lines are on the picture

[@ashleyschooneman2998]

I have one 18 kg very portable room to room

[@stretcheasy3506]

you finish taking the guts out of it yet.lmaooooooo

[@databits]

Stretch Easy Haha...no I sold it! (with the guts)

[@opusv5]

Sanyo Betas sold cheaply for the era.

[@faisalalrehaili8363]

i have one new in the box on ebay for 120 ! Sanyo Bcord VTC-9100A

[@databits]

Faisal Alrehaili Good luck selling it! I sold mine.

[@faisalalrehaili8363]

for how much did u sale it I have one new in in a box

[@patarrota1986]

Muy buena máquina

[@donbaxter7943]

i used to have one

[@superperfectstranger815]

you can broadcast rf easy with a home made tesla coil

[@marcse7en]

CORRECTION: In VHS VCRs, only the UPPER DRUM ROTATES, and the lower drum is STATIC! ANOTHER CORRECTION: VHS and BETAMAX employ HALF-INCH VIDEOTAPE, and NOT ONE-INCH! PLEASE NOTE: VHS and BETAMAX use different methods to detect the end of the tape. VHS uses an OPTICAL SYSTEM with a TRANSPARENT LEADER, whereas BETAMAX uses a METALLIC LEADER! If you use a transparent leader in a BETAMAX VCR, the end of tape will not be detected, and the tape will be torn from the reels! I find it amusing that the BETA OMEGA WRAP, compared to the VHS M WRAP, is described as "cool." You've obviously not seen the inside of many VTRs?

[@GoldSrc_]

Some Beta machines had a rotating drum, it was just quite short and still had another static piece on top.