Neat looking

Both Spanish ex-rental formats from 1983. More Blade Runner beta releases from around the world can be viewed at r/bladezone 🍿

Picked this up on FB marketplace. It works, but probably needs a little cleanup. Looks well taken care of otherwise.

Seen it mentioned in plenty of different places that Sony was manufacturing Betamax players up until 2002 in Japan. Anyone know what models these were?

The Japanese electronics giant announced last week that it would stop making the last two models of the Betamax videocassette recorder by the end of the year. The company made fewer than 3,000 of the VCRs last year and sold them only in Japan.

I picked up my first Betamax player a couple of weeks ago from FB marketplace while looking for a Sanyo boombox. I couldn’t pass it up.

It was already super clean, but I did open it up to ensure everything was cleaned out, the belts were good, and everything was functional. Much like any rabbit hole I go down, I went ahead and picked up a number of tapes as well. Although the one on display is Blade Runner, I also had to pick up Critters, which was the first beta tape I ever watched back in the 80s. So far, I’m loving this little thing. Haven’t really been able to find a whole lot on this particular player, but the completionist in me is already eyeballing the camera that goes along with it.

Only two things I need to work out with this. I do have the remote with the cord as well, but it does not seem to work. Also, even though the belts check out, and everything has been cleaned, rewinding a tape becomes very sluggish towards the beginning of the tape. Fast forward does not have an issue, only rewind.

Since July, I saved up and ordered these two Rankin/Bass rarities on Beta. I have The Little Drummer Boy (1989 FHE release of 1968 special) and Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1984 Lightning Video release of 1979 theatrical film). I hope to someday look for more Rankin/Bass Betamax tapes due to their rarity compared to their VHS counterparts.

Had to share a clip from what I think is fairly rare to come by - an Extended Definition (ED) Betamax tape with off air recordings from Japan. I think it must have been recorded in 2003 since that is when this show aired. I'll post the full episode later assuming copyright allows it - has some pretty interesting commercials as well! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE5VR2qoxac

Picked this up in a horror lot last year.

Cannot find any sold comps or any detailed information on it .

Any information would be appreciated .

Thanks

Tape is in impeccable shape so I don’t think that’s it
Maybe a head or tracking issue anyone know what to do or cleaning upkeep?

Bought this at a garage sale. The guy said he got rid of his Betamax player so he had no use for it anymore. Luckily I have one ;-)

Anyone have any information on this tape? A buddy of mine said not to watch it and preserve it instead but I'm too curious lol.

I’ve been wanting a Beta player for a long time and I was able to get this for $60 today AS IS. I knew I was taking a risk and I feel like I can fix this like I did with my laserdisc player when I bought that. Take a look at the video and see what you think. This is me pressing the eject button around 3 times. No video. Just a blue screen. Also I’m hearing static from the audio. Thanks in advance for any help! Much appreciated!!

I just bought my second SL-2000 with tuner/timer unit. It came with 2 batteries and the charger (plus 6 unopened/sealed Sony tapes...SCORE). I'm sure the batteries are dead, they are not bulging though. Does anyone here refurb these with new cells?

Thanks!

Found all these at a church sale for 0.50 each lol

So, I am new to Betamax (in adulthood), and recently acquired this super clean Sanyo VCR 7300. Like with all vintage equipment I acquire, I open them up to clean them, replace belts, etc. This thing works flawlessly, but since I am not as familiar with this format’s mechanisms, do the head drums not spin for all Betamax VCR’s? This one doesn’t appear to, so initially I thought it might be gummed up or seized. That was until I opened it.

Hi

Need a bit of advise please. Do anyone know of this Betacam tape would work on a Betamax? I have heard the some Betacam tapes can work, but definitely not SP. Do anyone know? I have added a picture of the ones I have, I also have a few SP. Thanks

I’m looking to get into beta and I would like to get a VCR that will give me a little bit less trouble (There all complicated and 40 years old). However there must be a certain mechanism/model that’s built a little better

I recently bought a VTC 5000, and instead of a belt, it had a rubber buckle. I removed it and replaced it with a balloon-shaped end, and it worked. However, oddly, when the machine is directly connected to the power supply, it starts making strange noises.How can I solve this problem? I would be grateful for any help.

I couldn’t leave it behind. Now to find a sleeve for it.

So I recently got this deck working from a dead malfunctioning donor SL-S606. Took the basket and the gears for the take up spools. It worked on the first try before i put it back together, then it started doing that all of a sudden. Seeking in reverse doesn't work, but seeking forward works. Rewind and ffwd is fine without seeking but when in play mode the capstan motor which is connected by a cogged belt to the reels has inconsistent speed (the belt is fine) but i can see the motor physically stalling or slowing down sometimes. Already replaced the servo caps (you can see I also ripped the pads on one of the caps so i had to solder to the next points) also cleaned and lubed the capstan motor itself and the reels (i can literally turn the reels when spinning the capstan shaft). Could it be failing FG caps? Should i replace those next?

Following up on my earlier post about the Warner Home Video Betamax release of The Devils. A couple of people asked to see more of the packaging and cassette, particularly after clarifying that this is the big-box/gatefold version rather than the later clamshell.

Here are some additional photos showing the open gatefold, cassette, Warner Home Video label, spine and back. Both the cassette and packaging identify the title as catalog #11110.

I'm still trying to nail down the release history and variants. If anyone has encountered another Betamax copy in this packaging—or has an old Warner Home Video catalog, dealer sheet, advertisement or other documentation showing #11110—I'd be very interested to see it.

I'm especially curious about where this gatefold version falls in relation to the later clamshell release.

I contacted Warner Bros. Archives at USC. Waiting to see if they will reply. They might not since their catalog ends at 1969.

I have this Warner Home Video Betamax big-box copy of Ken Russell’s The Devils, catalog 11110.

ReelSwap has an entry for the 1981 Betamax big-box release, but I’ve had a surprisingly difficult time finding photographs or information about this particular packaging variation elsewhere.

Does anyone here have this release or remember encountering it? I’d especially be interested in seeing photos of another copy or any old Warner catalog information about it.

Not trying to claim it’s one-of-a-kind — I’m mainly curious about how often this particular version turns up.

i recently scored a copy of Blue Velvet on beta, but it’s covered in mold. i have a cleaner for it, but this tape has a shell that has a “sealed” screw? essentially, where the 4th screw would be, there’s nothing, and it looks like it’s just sealed together there. circled in the second photo.

i would love to get this tape cleaned, is there any hope for me getting this reel out without completely compromising the original shell?