VCRs - Page 2

Anything that plays old media will continue to be in demand. I have a bunch of old VHS tapes of things that can't be found elsewhere: me giving a lecture, me in an old play.

Just as I have old photos on old floppies of various kinds. I really should consider transferring this old stuff to the cloud. We will see if I ever get around to it.

Most people probably have irreplaceable materials on old media, and you need old players to access them.

Also, I think there is value in old pieces just as they are: look at the people who collect and display vintage photo equipment and old computers/word processors. VHS and Beta players could be next.

PS - i think I said the word Old nine times in this post. Now, ten times.

I thought I would dredge this topic up out of the murky depths. Anyone had new insights or new outlets about old media players, especially DVD/VCR combos and stereos? I think my issue is that I can't distinguish a poor quality make from a better one, working or no, so I don't even know how which ones to set aside for sale.

I'm still using the VCR systems and have collected up quite a few of them as well as many other types of older systems such as BETA and the RCA SelectaVision consoles.

I don't watch any broadcast media or such, just recorded media. Figured that for the price of a DISH set up I could buy all the recorded media I wanted.

I heard that the last company that made VCR systems closed down in the last couple of years. And the VHS tapes are getting scarce in the thrift shops around me, but there are still a few shops "trying" to sell them.

I also don't like flat screens so I have a nice selection of SONY Trinitron sets as I prefer the viewing over the round and glossy tubes.

Vinyl LP,s are still popular and they are still making some, as are the players.

The cheaper new record players ruin records the first time you play it on one.
The arms not stabilised enough & the needle sways like a drunken driver on a one lane road.
Hits the sides of the groove & rubs the edges of the ripples in the groove off.

I had a new record i played on a friends cheaper record player & from then on there was a scratchy sound appearing just to the left of the right speaker when i played it on mine.

I once heard the expression " A used records only as good as the worst record player it was played on".

If the current phase of buying records keeps up for a while, the record players i have saved up over the years will be worth a bit.
In general, any record player with a 'Weighted tone arm' & preferred with a stroboscopic speed adjustment, is probably worth getting if its cheap enough.
Any players with a rubber drive belt will need to have it replaced. A good Stylus is a big advantage, a Ortofon OM10 cartridge & stylus etup is worth about US$50.
You need to buy a gauge to set it up, but there's cardboard foldable versions that do the job.

A amp i found in the scrap pile years ago, i put up on internet auction today. Already have one bidder of NZ$300, 11 hours after the auction started.
Its the first ever item i have put up for auction & it has given me some confidence in selling the rest of my hordings...

I don't use any of the Bluetooth items and I've noticed that those new turntables are all set up to interact with others from their dimension.

I have many of the old turntables and a few of the combo sets that had radio and a 8 track or cassette deck on them. The clear plastic covers for the turntables on those are rare in perfect condition, if there is one with the system.

I myself don't listen to music much any more, so I don't listen to the hoard of music media I have, but on rare occasion.

I do still enjoy my movie watching.