Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Snarf81 · 29th Mar 2020, 5:04 pm

Hi all,

Whilst sorting out loads of paperwork I found the instruction manual for our second VHS vcr (the first one we had was a piano key ex rental Baird).

I'd love to know what it's a badged clone of please, if anyone has a clue about such things then I'd love to know!

It's a Rediffusion model 630. It looks a bit 'Toshiba-ish'?

The vcr is long gone but I'm going to try and find one to put into my collection.

Regards
Rich.

jayceebee · 29th Mar 2020, 5:33 pm

I'm pretty sure it's a Sharp. The rear panel suggest a clone of the VC-381H to me.

John.

Maarten · 29th Mar 2020, 9:04 pm

Is there a part number (often small print on the back cover) on the manual? They were often printed by the OEM and in that case would have their part number on it. While I probably wouldn't recognise Toshiba or Hitachi numbers, I would a Sharp or Panasonic number.

jayceebee · 29th Mar 2020, 10:38 pm

If it is a Sharp as I suspect look for a 13 character code probably ending GEZZ.

John.

Maarten · 30th Mar 2020, 3:03 am

That's a common one for older Sharp VCR parts, but there are more possibilities, some not even fully qualified 13 position codes as for example the ZZ may be left off.

Usually Sharp instruction manuals start with TiNS, though, with iNS likely short for instruction manual. Sharp numbers tend to be somewhat human readable-ish.

JonSnell · 30th Mar 2020, 9:28 am

At Rediffusion we had two models, both made by Sharp. The 620 and 630.

They were assembled in the UK and used a Mullard tuner unit because if items were imported incomplete, it avoided the import duty.

The only issues we had with them was belts for the deck positioning and yes, the tuners.

JonSnell · 30th Mar 2020, 1:31 pm

Those were the days when a week long training course was part of the engineers expected duty.
I had a few weeks in Blackpool at the nearby training school. At Rediffusion I finished up with Super Tech grades. Grade 6 was as far as one normally got and Super Tech then qualified the holder, as a teacher.
I spent my time until Granada TV Rental took over, as a bench engineer. GTVR didn't like us as we could repair many different makes of TV and Video, GTVR only knew about Finlandia, (Hitachi). We got a lot of grief and I left to form my own repair company eventually covering the whole of the South of UK for all of the major manufacturers until I retired some years ago.
I now specialise in older valve equipment.

Snarf81 · 30th Mar 2020, 2:13 pm

Hi all,
Ahh, thank you for the replies and suggesting Sharp as the original manufacturer. I've had a look at the user manual and it doesn't have a part number that I can see, just a 'Printed in Japan' text on the back cover.

Now my task is to find the Rediffusion 630 vcr to put into my VCR collection. Easier said than done I imagine!

Many thanks again!
Rich.

raditechman · 30th Mar 2020, 3:42 pm

JonSnell said

Quote:

a few weeks in Blackpool

I also spent many happy weeks in Blackpool and attending Redifussion training courses at The Manor. Poulton-Le Fylde.
Although the model here is a VHS machine the first Redifussion video course I went on was with the Phillips system, models like the N1500. So the company was into video recording from the early days.
I agree with JonSnell at Redifusion you did get training on lots of different makes.
John

JonSnell · 31st Mar 2020, 2:51 pm

We used to take our exams in Pontypridd, being part of the South West Region.
It all started to go horribly wrong when they decided to have a Regional Service Centre in Bournemouth, Holdenhurst Road. They took all the service away from the workshops as the workshops, especially in Gillingham, were using more spares than repairs. I will let you work out why.
Quite a few techs lost their jobs over that.
I have memories of what seemed like being half way up a mountain taking my exams. I think the studios were also in the same building but not sure.
Funny old world!

29th Mar 2020, 5:04 pm	#1
Snarf81 Heptode Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Rogiet, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. Posts: 615	Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. Hi all, Whilst sorting out loads of paperwork I found the instruction manual for our second VHS vcr (the first one we had was a piano key ex rental Baird). I'd love to know what it's a badged clone of please, if anyone has a clue about such things then I'd love to know! It's a Rediffusion model 630. It looks a bit 'Toshiba-ish'? The vcr is long gone but I'm going to try and find one to put into my collection. Regards Rich. Attached Thumbnails

29th Mar 2020, 5:33 pm	#2
jayceebee Heptode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Durham, County Durham, UK. Posts: 640	Re: Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. I'm pretty sure it's a Sharp. The rear panel suggest a clone of the VC-381H to me. John.

29th Mar 2020, 9:04 pm	#3
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. Is there a part number (often small print on the back cover) on the manual? They were often printed by the OEM and in that case would have their part number on it. While I probably wouldn't recognise Toshiba or Hitachi numbers, I would a Sharp or Panasonic number.

29th Mar 2020, 10:38 pm	#4
jayceebee Heptode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Durham, County Durham, UK. Posts: 640	Re: Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. If it is a Sharp as I suspect look for a 13 character code probably ending GEZZ. John.

30th Mar 2020, 3:03 am	#5
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. That's a common one for older Sharp VCR parts, but there are more possibilities, some not even fully qualified 13 position codes as for example the ZZ may be left off. Usually Sharp instruction manuals start with TiNS, though, with iNS likely short for instruction manual. Sharp numbers tend to be somewhat human readable-ish.

30th Mar 2020, 9:28 am	#6
JonSnell Hexode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Weymouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 475	Re: Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. At Rediffusion we had two models, both made by Sharp. The 620 and 630. They were assembled in the UK and used a Mullard tuner unit because if items were imported incomplete, it avoided the import duty. The only issues we had with them was belts for the deck positioning and yes, the tuners.

30th Mar 2020, 1:31 pm	#7
JonSnell Hexode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Weymouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 475	Re: Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. Those were the days when a week long training course was part of the engineers expected duty. I had a few weeks in Blackpool at the nearby training school. At Rediffusion I finished up with Super Tech grades. Grade 6 was as far as one normally got and Super Tech then qualified the holder, as a teacher. I spent my time until Granada TV Rental took over, as a bench engineer. GTVR didn't like us as we could repair many different makes of TV and Video, GTVR only knew about Finlandia, (Hitachi). We got a lot of grief and I left to form my own repair company eventually covering the whole of the South of UK for all of the major manufacturers until I retired some years ago. I now specialise in older valve equipment.

30th Mar 2020, 2:13 pm	#8
Snarf81 Heptode Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Rogiet, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. Posts: 615	Re: Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. Hi all, Ahh, thank you for the replies and suggesting Sharp as the original manufacturer. I've had a look at the user manual and it doesn't have a part number that I can see, just a 'Printed in Japan' text on the back cover. Now my task is to find the Rediffusion 630 vcr to put into my VCR collection. Easier said than done I imagine! Many thanks again! Rich.

31st Mar 2020, 2:51 pm	#10
JonSnell Hexode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Weymouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 475	Re: Rediffusion VHS VCR identification. We used to take our exams in Pontypridd, being part of the South West Region. It all started to go horribly wrong when they decided to have a Regional Service Centre in Bournemouth, Holdenhurst Road. They took all the service away from the workshops as the workshops, especially in Gillingham, were using more spares than repairs. I will let you work out why. Quite a few techs lost their jobs over that. I have memories of what seemed like being half way up a mountain taking my exams. I think the studios were also in the same building but not sure. Funny old world!