VHS Tapes were maybe the most rapid dying popular analog format. There are no more tapes nor VCR players made anymore, nor it meets any standard of the digital quality of today. Well except in some poor DVDs with bad compression, which still makes VHS image look somewhat better: pixelation effect is not visible in VHS - at fast moving scenes, VHS still can beat the DVD compressed format! But other than that, is it under digital format specs by a mile.
So, VHS is a very niche market, which grows thinner and thinner.
For collectors the importance of maintenance is crucial, to make sure the tapes are still fit and that they live longer. The very nostalgic feeling that comes with it (you shure remember your first VHS movies at home on VCR) or that some are still hunted for certain versions of some movies, that first original release (eg. Star Wars) or for live concerts, make them a rather nice addition to the memorabilia, movie and music collection.

Let's say you just rediscovered this hobby and want to re-watch some of your old tapes. Here I want to say a few words about that process, so you know what you are dealing with and what to do if something doesn't seem to function properly.

First thing first, before pressing PLAY > you should stop right away, and inspect the tape physicaly. Does it seems intact? No parts inside are flying around?
If it seems without defects, just insert it in the player and do first a FF (Fast Forward) and a REW (Rewind) all the way through - from one end to the other. This is the first step, in order to make sure the tape is not stuck. After much time no use, this is a mandatory step, to realign the tape to the reels properly.

After this, if you can make that FF and REW process with no problems, then you can press play. In case the image has static dots, this means that the head of the VCR should be cleaned (cleaning tape is recomended). In case there are other major image issues, maybe you should look at the tape itself, it may be it is in poor condition, was "eaten" at some point.

Second if the tape seems to not even be Re-winded then could be a problem with the shell and its parts. Here some images with some tips I can give.

The most common format. This is a VHS Tape with red latch (a sign of a no cheap one, in this case an original Columbia Tristar Cassette.

Back of the VHS Cassette. Here the rotating reels.

By pressing the side bump, we can expose the tape.

The internal small white rotating cylinder. This one needs to be lubricated in case it is stuck. May cause the tape to rewind slow, or to cause wobbling image if it is not moving freely. Also loosing the screws a bit may help. The metal cylinders are not moving parts.

The reels do not cause much friction in normal cases, because they have space to move back and forth. When they are played, the VCR presses them inside the shell, so they actually do not cause friction here.

In case tape seems stuck, unexpected, you can hand-rewind it a few times. This is possible only be releasing the internal reels teeth holders. So you need to keep pressure on this hole's bump while rewinding.
In most cases there is no need to screw open the tape. But in case you're still not able to fix it, it may be that there is something else damaged inside. After unscrew, turn it on the other side and open it.
Sometimes you need to sacrifice the paper side label, or unstick it with care. Sometimes there is an original stamp, this will get wasted upon opening.

You can open it gently and watch out for the falling parts.


When packing it together again, make sure the cylinders are put in place.


And also make sure the tape flows between the cylinder(s) and the plastic foliage, the tape's gentle presser.

Visible here is also the squared holes (of the inside presser and of the case). Those squares facilitate a beam of light to pass through, this is useful when the VCR will rewind the tape.
The sensor will know the tape is towards the end, so it will slow down the spinning.


The plastic and metal cylinders. Usually 2 metal and one plastic. But there are cases when they are all plastic.


Here are the teeth stoppers of the reels. Sometimes they need to have their springs checked.



For any problems with a tape, please contact us, we are looking forward to providing any assistance you may need, to keep your tapes fit, so you can enjoy them once (or more) again!

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