"Dated" Analog Video Technology!!!
Beta format was a superior video tape technology and used both in domestic and professional/broadcast industry environments but it lost the "format wars" to VHS eventually but not because VHS was better but marketing of VHS and lower costs swung the domestic market towards VHS. Beta however remained a standard with the professional video tape industry for many years ....
This machine is absolutely designed for the domestic market.
HISTORY:
I thought all of my video equipment had already found new owners but then I find this lovely old Beta machine from Sanyo. My previous video technology projects are all dim memories of the past now so this machine has no purpose for me any longer.
Sanyo Video Tape Recorder/Player
Year of release: 1984
Model: VTC-M10
Beta format
Rotary 2 head helical scanning
240V Australian operation
In-built 12 channel television receiver (analog broadcasts ONLY - not digital)
PAL video output
Colour resolution 250 lines
MONO audio - not stereo
Audio frequency response 50Hz ~ 10Khz
Front loading
Auto rewind
Maximum record time with an L-830 tape is 3 hours 35 minutes
Useable with L-830, L-750, L-500 & L-250 tape media
8 day 1 event timer function
Forward & Reverse picture search (Black/White)
Still image playback (Black/White)
Remote control operation is possible (wired) BUT I AM NOT SUPPLYING THE REMOTE
User Manual (copy but in printed form) will be supplied
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Outer steel case is in very good condition. Just a couple of minor scratches but there is an ID number which has been engraved into each side and the bottom steel plate - not too noticeable but if you look closely you can see them.
Plastic rear panel is clean and undamaged, as are the input/output connectors
Front panel is in very good condition, very clean and no damage to the labelling
No buttons and knobs are marked or broken
Drop down front panel (time adjustment panel) is in very good condition.
TESTING:
Unfortunately I am forced to offer this VTR as untested. It has been a long long time since any Beta tapes lurked around here so I have no media to test it with, but I made some limited testing (without a tape) which is described below ...
Powers Up (Blue/Green 4 digit display lights up - good brightness) and the machine waits in "Standby mode"
Push the Standby button and the deck comes alive, well sort of, the channel indicators light up anyway! 12 channels all selected fine (light up) but I have no signal sources to check reception though.
Setup the clock and timer function without problems, no issues
Had a look inside (see photographs) and no issues viewed (no obvious overheating, broken gears and I noticed the rubber drive belts are still intact)
I was amazed when looking around online that you can still get some mechanical spare parts for these machines! Like reel to reel tape recorders, cassette decks and a lesser extent CD drives, it is often that if trouble is going to occur, it will be the mechanical parts that often fail or need re-lubrication. Sure electronic components also fail but not as often in my experience.
I am not saying that this machine will need a service but realistically, it is likely that something isn't quite right after all these years sitting in the dark cupboard of the old house and then in our storage units.
