I think I actually have all the of the NTSC variants of the models shown here. This'll help out a lot should I ever be bothered to try and fix one's likely tens of problems. Only the both Hi-Fi and tuner/ac-adapter-docking ones still work perfectly. The rest are all mechanically all but dead. Models that have this design just drop like flies I guess. Interesting that panasonic used "National" instead of Matsushita or Panasonic instead of their names over in Europe etc. Although I guess it makes sense for a consumer to be more attracted to something called "National" instead of " 松下 ". The prefix "NV" (National Video) was used on many of the earlier USA/CA-bound U-Vision and VHS machines over here. Although to my best knowledge and reading I've never seen a "National" VCR of any sort for America, though. I think "National" was still promoted afterwards in certain types of products, but I don't know exactly which ones. Certainly their bicycles at least. They were re-branded and re-stylized/colored for a fuck-off amount of different brands though. J.C. Penny, Magnavox, Quasar, RCA, and a million others.
I think there was a licensing conflict / potential for confusion that prevented the National name from being used in North America. I found all of my older NV-3000 / PV-3000 / NV-100 don't function anymore. Leaking capacitors is an issue as well as mechanical like belt slipping. But the newer NV-180, AG-2400, AG-6400, PV-8000, PV-9000 generally work, but they have problems with the bearings in the video head. Oil thrust bearing, the oil dried out and results in the head vibrating. I have a stack of the Panasonic PV-8000 and PV-9000 and a number of variants with other brand names on them, with the docking stations. Will make videos about those at some point.
@@KlonoaTorqueBow 8 Models with the docking station tuner thing. 5 Of those are the HIFI versions. One Japanese AG-2400 3 x AG-6400 7 x NV-180 6 x NV-100 4 x NV-3000 / PV-3000 A lot of stuff.
I would love to have to have that NV180. I am gonna look on ebay, hope I find something. I love VCRs but I always disliked the wasted space and the reliance on rubber parts. Edit: Is is possible to fix that problem with the head bearrings?
It is a nice Machine. There are a number of other models that are the same or similar with different brand names too: Panasonic PV-8000 / PV-9000 / AG-6400 / AG-7400 / AG-2400 General Electric 1CVD5023 Quasar VP5741XQ / VP5748XE Sylvania VC4512SL01 / VC4515SL01 Curtis Mathes KV773 Elmo ER-10 J C Penny 686-5115 Canon VR40 VR8485 And others.
@@Elecami Thank you soo much, that is massively helpful for me!!! In the video you mentioned that the videohead bearings are a problem on those models. Is it possible to re-lube them? I am familiar with videoheads using ball bearings but you mentioned these are using some kind of special bearing with circulating oil that gets bad.
It is possible. I did it once before a long time ago, I can't remember if I use oil or light grease. I have a whole bunch of NV-180s and similar models, I'll make some videos about those at some point and will try to go through that process. I can't remember the process to take the head assembly apart. I guess it is the 3 screws near the center that they tell you several times never to remove in the Service Manual. I noticed if you position the VCR vertically, the head will run smoothly. That is a way to check if the head oil dried up. Also if you gently rest your finger on the top of the head drum while it is spinning you can stop it vibrating to check.
@@Elecami thanks for the detailed reply! Gonna try and buy it and hope it works, need something to record my blank tapes with... Looking forward to any more videos you make about them (: cheers
@@mr.frogman9939 Apart from the Video head, I think the NV-180 would have one of the most reliable mechanism of any common consumer VCR of that time period. The tuner might develop problems in its power supply. It will makes a whistling or hissing noise. In that case capacitors need to be replaced.
@@Elecami well i got my NV-180+tuner+ tuner remote and it's fantastic, physically everything looks fine, everything seems operational. It definitely looks like an extremely robust mechanism compared to others I've seen, so it being mono isn't a huge drawback. I don't have a TV tho, so until I find a nice one (one issue of being in NZ...) I can't fully test it unfortunately.
