Yep, we had one like this in high school too. Big metal wheeled cart, tv sitting on top, recorder on the middle shelf, and a camera on an umbilical cord. The school was very nervous of who they let run that machine, all we knew is it was very expensive. Do a video on that crt tv you have there, I am curious where the high voltage leakage is coming from. Do you hear any hissing? I can still hear the 15,750 Hz pitch that flyback puts out at age 64.

Cool! I love hearing about old video formats.

You can't get any reel to reel VTR's in the U.K. for under £500. In ANY condition. The most basic model, working, will set you back over £1500. I've always wanted one, I think they are a work of art.

Haven't seen one of these for a long time, what a cool machine!!

it 's an excellent video upload

This was a great walkthrough regardless of the outcome. Although these particular machines are outside of my interests I found it a fascinating video. Hope someone finds some heads and sends them to you.

Pretty neat! It’s interesting how much the mechanism resembles their standard audio recorders of that time. I’ll bet there are even some interchangeable parts.

I operated one of these in grade school. It was connected to a Sony by Admiral TV. I have one now that has a GE brand. The capstan motor didn't run well so I replaced the motor cap with a larger one and then it seemed to run ok. Don't think I got a picture from it yet.

The guts of these Sony gears of the 70s, with the rollers, the springs, the levers, the friction needed, can be tricky. I remember I had to deal with those things when I fixed my TC630 RtR. The game was to clean all the sticky old grease, put new one where needed but avoid any lubricant anywhere else because all the rollers end belts which need friction. Well, bad luck fort he heads but you rvideo is realy interesting. Thank you

I think my elementary school had a Sony VTR like that back in the late-'70s.

Last time I saw one of these in use, was at a training centre in 1981.

You rarely see an EIAJ machine these days. I can't wait to watch this in a place where I can hear the audio and what you say about the machine as you work on it.

Wondering if you could use grease on the bearings instead of oil?

Will we be getting a little repair video on that CRT TV?

What’s all the black stuff inside the machine near the reels and idlers?

How about using upper drum from the other unit... where the replacement heads came from ?

I thought that you might use a little canned air to blow the rubber grit before lubing those bushings, etc.

Ah man, that's too bad about the heads. It's a beautiful old machine and I'd have loved to have seen a picture from it.

Reminds me of High School Basketball days. Every once in a long while a machine just like this one would be dragged out just in time to tape me missing a shot during a breakaway. I was better on defense than I was as a shooter ... LOL

Have an Akai VT-120 sitting on the shelf for ages now. With camera, power supply and tons of tapes. But no time and.. no motivation yet.. *sigh*

Okay. It’s now 2 years later. Any luck finding the heads? Do you still own the machine? Great video!

can be ordinary vhs heads compatible?

Dave, I have to ask, does this record at different speeds, or is it just set at one speed? Thanks for sharing this really interesting. Could you use this just for audio?

did you clean and lube the capstan?

Saludos

Mui bueno

Argh.. That's too bad. Interesting video though. As allways. Love the old machines.

How can you adjust the protrusion and dihedral after taking the head chips off?

I repaired over 100 of this series, head replace is rough, had a dual microscope for dihedral and head height, head height was shims under head. Dihedral was done with special screws to move head. Try cleaning head by moving head past a business card soaked with alcohol manually back and forth, not any force , tiny heads will brake, any hard hit will crack heads. although sony sold plastic sticks with shammy glued on it for cleaning with special fluid. You most likely clogged heads with old tape's , So good luck on finding good tape. Might be same size as vhs ? Just sitting in un-airconditioned warehouse for 5 years boxed with plastic bag this tape would go bad. When it sticks to drum its bad tape. Same went for all tapes umatic 3/4 , reel 1 in and 2 in. and audio tape. Check heads with microscope see if ok and flat, should see tiny head gap in carbon heads. If you swap a single head you have to deal with head penitration and use a micrometer to check and adjust. THANKS for the memory's of the AV3400 etc series, Av3400 the portable with camera was the same but small reels. Used alot in schools. I repaired all video and audio recorders, just relics now.

i have a sony av3650 its pretty much restored haven't put in the new video head yet

hi have one with bad heads as well i have to find some way of using the deck for something the deck i have is in a warm place and is working i have a high band umatic that is play back only video is great had to take audio right of play back head bad audio pre amp

Notice Dave made registration marks on the head retainer ring before removing.

Try a guy called Data bits. He may have one of these machines with good heads.

Good engineer but the mess on that bench .

Couldnt you just sand down the bottom part of the top head covering, with some sandpaper, to make the heads fit?

👍👍👍🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱👍

I always think: "Does he likes what he does", and I think the answer is "Yes!" But what do you like and dislike?

Iam very suprised you never checked the heads in the first place.Before attempting to repair this machine

I have one. Anybody want it?

Shame about the heads but no supprise , and i bet even a betamax head chips would not fit. Some pillock ruined the most important part :-(

Man, you know a lot shit! Keep fixing stuff.

What a shame :-(

You have a very messy bench