(SD) 1974 Introduction of the Sony AV-8650 EAIJ standard Color Editing VTR. Dave McDonald, Sony's Product Manager of the US VTR Division explains the features of the last EIAJ VTR made by Sony.

       (SD) Dave McDonald introduces us to the DXC-1200 single tube (trinicon) low cost color studio camera in 1974. The DXC-1200 sold in the thousands, are available to this day (used) and usually still operate. The video itself may have been shot with a DXC-5000, a two tube color video camera that predates the DXC-1200 by a couple of years.

       (SD) Dave McDonald tells us all about the features of the new AVC-3250 and AVC-3260 small BW studio video cameras. These are small vidicon cameras with four inch video viewfinders. Very simple to operate, these were used in thousands of schools, institutions and even homes. Externally synchronizable, the AVC32xx cameras could be used a with a special effects generator like the Sony SEG-1 and SEG-1A.

       (SD) Dave McDonald tells about the latest innovation in low cost video editing in 1974. The VO-2850 Umatic video editor and RM-400 two machine controller, enabling true A/B roll editing on a budget for the first time.

       (SD) Dave McDonald shows us the first hand held color video camera from Sony. The DXC-1600 is a single tube design using a Trinicon tube.

       (SD) Dave McDonald show us the Sony VO-3800 Portable Umatic video cassette recorder. Utilizing external color playback adapter, built into the AC adapter, Sony was just able to squeeze everything into the VCR. It was seldom required to have color playback on location. BW playback was adequate to let the producers know if they had picture on tape.

       (HD) This is the oldest existing consumer half inch video tape recorder, that ultimately went into mass production, in the world. A truly bold claim and yet completely true. Built in 1964, this vintage VTR used half inch tape to record BW television and sound. One reel of tape held one hour. This product series, called Videocorders, was the earliest to market and to be purchased in greater than trivial numbers. Sony manufactured tens of thousands of these between 1965 and 1969. Intended for time shifting TV shows in the home, the series found its true market in schools and commercial institutions. Eleven years before Betamax.

       This is the first video I created using my new Canon Vixia HF M30 high Definition Camcorder. Edited with Corel Video Studio Pro. Observe as you progress through the following videos that my shooting and editing skills improve. Forgive the poor quality of these earliest works. ~Labguy~

       (HD) View a demonstration of a rare working portable color video system from 41 years ago! Vintage 1970. Conforms to EIAJ, type 1 standard. Half inch video tape. 30 minutes record time per five inch reel. Battery or AC operation. On it's own, this VTR operates in BW mode. With the external adapter attached, color operation becomes possible. The color adapter is model NV-A610. The matching BW camera, for this kit, was the WV-3082. A matching color camera existed as well. The model WV-2200, which I also have in my vast collection of extinct video recording equipment. Visit my web site for more details about this gear. [Sadly, this video seems to have problems induced by a bad memory module in my computer at the time. Apologies, folks.]

       (HD) This is a pre production prototype of the 1965 home Videocorder, serial number five! It has not been powered up since at least the early 70s, if then. It lived in a basement in Long Island, New York for until late last year. This is the second jewel in the crown of the Labguy's World collection of early video tape recorders. It will be attempted to restore it to operation. But, if it requires too many changes, then this precious artifact will be preserved as found. An authentic home video recorder, predating Betamax by 12 years!

       (HD) After trying the VTR out a few weeks ago and experiencing AC motor failure, I knew immediately that the AC phasing capacitor(s) had failed open. So, after doing my homework and spending a little money, I found excellent replacement parts. This video is the short run down on that repair. [Sadly, this video also seems to have problems induced by a bad memory module in my computer at the time. Apologies, folks.]

       (HD) The Sony CV-2000D was manufactured in 1965. This machine is over forty years old and still going. I show it in operation, with all its warts and wrinkles. Also provide a quick description of the tape path through the machine, including describing two kinds of video tape. This is an on going series of videos I am producing as we lead up to the Early Television Conference convention this year. (Google for it) I will be showing some of this wonderful quaint technology there this year.[Sadly, this video also seems to have problems induced by a bad memory module in my computer at the time. Apologies, folks.]

       (HD) A quick introduction to the world's first consumer video tape recorder. An explanation of its capabilities and cost comparison between film vs tape. Two and a half minutes.

       (HD) Three minute video of a quick checkout of the Hitachi portable one inch type C format professional video tape recorder. Obviously, not some of my best work.

       Between April 27 and May 6, 2011, I flew to New Your JFK airport where I met up with Bruno Merlier who arrived from Cannes, France. We traveled about 1,000 miles by auto to Columbus, Ohio, to attend the Early Television Foundation convention. From there we traveled to near Boston where we met up with Paul Beck of the Museum of Broadcast Technology. Paul took us to Foxboro high school video facilities, his churches video facilities, a local cable access plant and finally to the MBT. Paul introduced us to many memebrs of the museum foundation and volunteer staff. Then we traveled to New Jersey to visit John Turner's collection. For a finale, we met with David Sica, of Sica Productions, who took us to a new museum called InfoAge, built in the historic facilities where Marconi developed transatlantic radio and where much of the early radar research was performed. An excellent spring break indeed. Ten days and 8,400 miles for me. Bruno had a few extra kilometers on his end of the trip.

The following videos, until further noticed are of that series of visits to the U.S. east coast. Enjoy! ~Labguy~

       (HD) What Labguy did on his spring break series, episode 1. John Turner demonstrates the 1969 RCA TR-60 quadruplex broadcast video tape recorder that he has restored to operation.

       (HD) Episode 2 of the "What Labguy Did On His Spring Break" series. Paul Beck demonstrates his method for baking and cleaning old video tapes prior to recovering the video and audio content. Old tapes develop a condition called "binder hydrolosys" or more commonly, "sticky shed syndrome". This is where the binder, that's the glue that holds the metal magnetic particles to the Mylar or polyester film base, has decayed into a tacky coating. This crud will gum up the video tape recorder, clogging the guides and heads and sometimes even breaking the video heads. The preparation process consists of warming the tapes under a heat lamp for a week or more. Never exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit. An industrial dry air convection oven works well also. Then Paul cleans and lubricates the video tape, on a re-purposed Ampex 300 series tape deck, using dry silicone spray and simple paper towels. The spray is available at your local hardware store. Do not confuse dry silicone spray with WD-40. NEVER USE WD-40 on any tape recorder or tape!!!!

       (HD) Episode 3 of the "What Labguy Did On His Spring Break" series. I shoot horrible home movies. That's a fact. When I have no coherent footage, I call the result a "vignette". Works for me! This video is of some of the highlights, that impressed the Labguy, at the Early Television Convention in Hilliard, Ohio this year. I tried to include mostly operational equipment including, mechanical televisions and the famous Chuck Pharis RCA TK-11/31 image orthicon television camera from the late 1940s. Also shown for the first time in public anywhere, my very own Picturephone and Sony prototype home video tape recorder. The color drum TV belongs to Cliff Benham. Enjoy. Three minutes.

       (HD) Episode 4 of the "What Labguy did on his spring break series". We see the exchange of a large pedestal used to support extinct broadcast video cameras of the stone age being swapped at the Museum of Broadcast Technology (MBT) in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. I believe one is returning from the machinist and the other is on its way to have a missing part fabricated. Peter Fasciano gives us a description of how this situation was very much like the kind of union work found in your local TV station in the 1970s. This video is just a "fly on the wall" piece of work. But, I found fascinating enough to share with you all.