LabGuy's World: Akai VTS-150B 1/4" COLOR Potable Broadcast VTR System

New! (020630)
New photos! (020716)
Updated! (050518)
CLICK THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE, BACK BUTTON TO RETURNCLICK THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE, BACK BUTTON TO RETURNCLICK THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE, BACK BUTTON TO RETURNCLICK THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE, BACK BUTTON TO RETURNCLICK THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE, BACK BUTTON TO RETURNCLICK THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE, BACK BUTTON TO RETURN
Akai VT-150 1/4" Color VTR and VC-150 Color Portapack Video Camera.
        YES! Broadcast video system. This model has the facilities to be used with a broadcast TBC to go "on the air"! This explains two mystery connectors and a small toggle switch. One connector is a BNC and probably accepts advanced vertical sync from the TBC. Then there is a tiny gold coaxial jack that is most likely the RF out for triggering the drop out compensator in the TBC. The switch might select normal or TBC playback mode. OR It is color bars OFF/ON. Anyone got the manual for the Akai VT-150B?
        Vintage 1974, serial number 101. This is the high point of the Akai 1/4" VTR series of products. Probably never produced in any large quantity, these are very rare! At this point, Akai may have abandoned compatibility with the earlier B/W units. The VTR does have a color / BW mode select switch. This machine uses the same tape path as the B/W units, but runs at a slightly slower speed of 10 IPS providing up to 25 minutes recording time on a 5" diameter, 1100 foot long roll of high energy "color" tape. I have not tested the system at this time, so it is unclear whether the BW mode is compatible with the older machines. Stay tuned for the answer to this question. 
        All of this new inforamation I found in a 1976 advertising flyer from Akai. 
        Photos one and two are glamour shots of the VT-150 VTR itself. Photo three is of the logo badge and threading diagrams. The logo is on the top cover outside, threading diagram is on the top cover inside. The fourth photo is of the utility panel on the side of the VTR. Not shown is the actual camera connector which is an EIAJ 12 pin female type. The fifth photo shows the system packed in its handsome carrying case. The last photo is of the matching VC-150 color camera covered much more extensively [HERE]. The AC power supply and battery charger, which is not shown, is model VA-150. DC power is provided by two internal 6 volt lead acid batteries.
        Overall, this system is in virtually brand new "show room" condition! I will be testing this system soon, so as usual, Stay Tuned!

[ADVERTISING FLYER #1]
[ADVERTISING FLYER #2]
[VTS-150 OPERATOR'S MANUAL]
 


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Last updated: June 02, 2005