So, my VHS tape of WWII Bugs Bunny and Daffy cartoons, which is almost as old as I am, if not older, has finally given up the ghost and refuses to work. It appears that at some point, something was spilled on it, gumming up the gears. I was going to buy a replacement on DVD, but it seems not to be available.
Any idea on what DVD collections I would need to get to get most or all of these cartoons again? Would I be better off just buying another VHS copy?
Is the tape also gummed up? If not, just take the casette apart (five screws, usually), and replace the reels into another casette. Done it quite a few times when I’ve had problems with the casette, but the reels and the tape were still in good shape.
Obviously, this approach might not work if the tape is just plain bad or worn out.
Your best bet would be to pick through the various releases of “Looney Toons Golden Collection”; they are up to volume 4, and I know that at least a couple of wartime toons are in those sets, somewhere.
+1 - the Golden Collections versions are the way to go. They have been restored and so the colors and sounds are wonderful. We just got V4 this holiday and have really enjoyed adding to V’s 1 - 3…
This video was released when I was in college and working at a video rental store. It was a hit with all my friends and we watched it frequently. Alas, it was stolen and never seen again. Honestly, someone I do not know stole it. I have not seen it since the late 80s.
I’m having trouble coming up with the money to buy the Golden Collections, and I’m not sure why. I think my kids would like them…somehow I just can’t spend the $50 for one of them.
Hey, what if I bought another tape in good condition and then had it converted to digital format on my computer and burned to one of them high-quality CDRs? What are some good methods for that?
I do that often with my DVR (it’s like a VCR but it uses a hard drive instead of VHS tapes). I just burn the video to disk after that.
I could damn near open a business with all the relatives lining up to have old home movies done. The best part is I don’t even have to watch them. I can still watch TV while the recording is going on.
I <3 technology 
A sort-of related question: Can old video tapes be retouched or something? My mom has a video of a play she was in, and the video was blurry from day one (said day being…oh…twenty years ago). A hopeless case?