In back of my closet I’ve got an “ancient” consumer VCR for VHS tapes. IIRC, it’s a GE-brand model that was sold in the early 1980’s, when VCRs were exotic luxury items just hitting the market.
It is gigantic by today’s standards – about 6"x 18"x 12", I’d estimate – and weighs about as much as a bulldozer. The cassette popped out the top via a little elevator carriage. And you had to program the incoming cable TV channels with this dizzying array of tiny buttons and/or switches; it came with a sheet of little clear plastic channel numbers you’d slip into backlit windows to identify the channel buttons.
Anyway, the thing does not work, IIRC, because of a snapped belt or some other relatively minor reason. Other than that, it should be in fine shape.
I’ve kept it all this time because once (years ago) a guest in my home saw it and remarked how much of a classic it was and that “it’s worth something.” He even made overtures to buy it, which I poo-pooed before he made an offer. (He’s since passed away, BTW.)
Well, it’s housecleaning time. If this thing is worth little or nothing, I want it gone (in the trash or donated to a good home). If it’s worth something, I’d like to sell it.
Does anyone have any idea what such a dinosaur may be worth?
Maybe when stuff exactly like you’ve described is no longer available at the Goodwill or Salvation Army for $3- $5. Till then it need s more closet time. Check eBay for pricing, it’s the most accurate real world guide you’ll find.
Note pulykamell’s link is to a low end Beta VCR. Betas are actually worth money. I’ve sold several on eBay for hundreds of dollars over the years. VHS VCRs are worthless. You’ve got a boatanchor on your hands stuyguy. It will never have any value. You can get a “modern,” working, stereo hifi VHS VCR for $2 at a garage sale.
Based on your description (date, brand, size), I used to own the same VCR. It was a great VCR. One reason why I kept it and used it until the heads got worn out was that it was immuned to the various copy protection techniques that were used on VHS videos in the early days. But alas, it eventually went kaput one day. But these old workhorses are pretty worthless and have no collectable value. Sort of like the old IBM PCs.
I seriously doubt that a nonfunctioning VCR from the '80s is worth anything. I have a 1979 JVC VidStar, the first machine to be capable of recording in SLP mode. It still works. I did a bit of checking around, and the best offer I got was ten bucks. These behemoths aren’t particularly rare, and even if they work, they have crappy linear mono sound and are not cable-ready. I’m keeping mine as an oddity, just out of nostalgia.
People want Beta VCRs in order to watch/convert old tapes. Very few people still want to make new Beta tapes. (I still do home recording on Beta from time to time though!) This is a big reason why old VHS VCRs are worthless. You can get a new VHS VCR for $30.
The battery issue. A camcorder without a good working battery is nearly useless. The original batteries are no doubt dead by now and replacements are not cheap.
But keep an eye on eBay to see if there’s any interest.