Re: [AMIA-L] 3/4" Umatic

[Ted Langdell <preservation@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ted Langdell
Ted Langdell Creative Broadcast Services
Marysville, CA
Main:  	(530) 741-1212

Hi, Mary,

On Aug 1, 2006, at 9:58 AM, Mary Huelsbeck wrote:

> Hello -
>
> can anyone recommend a reputable place/dealer to buy a used 3/4" 
> Umatic deck in good working condition?  Ours is dying after many years 
> and we would like to investigate getting another one.
>
> Thanks - any suggestions and advice is greatly appreciated.
>
> Mary Huelsbeck
> Academic Archivist
> University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee Libraries

What make and model are you trying to replace?

You were looking for a reputable dealer or other reliable source.  You 
might check with Rick Ryan, Roscor Wisconsin 414/223-2600.  Roscor is a 
big Chicago based video supplier.

As Eric mentioned, television stations are a good resource, especially 
for later models.

You might start with Milwaukee Public Television's engineering 
department and see whether it has something unused in the back room.  
Ask if they have manuals... so that if it needs any attention down the 
road that you have the service info with the machine.

You might also inquire via the Milwaukee chapter of the Society of 
Broadcast Engineers.

Vice-Chair/Programming Chair is Tom May from your own WUWM 414/270-1141

Chapter 28 - Milwaukee
Meeting Time: 3rd Tuesday of the month
www.broadcast.net/~sbe28
Chapter 28 Chair: Todd Boettcher  CPBE
2018 W. County Line Road
Mequon, WI 53092-5615
tboettch@xxxxxxxxxx

Someone from one of the local stations may do repair and engineering on 
the side, and they can be a good resource for maintenance in case you 
don't have a technician inside the library or university system that's 
familiar with or can work on whatever you get.

Regarding Jim Wheeler's purchase on ebay:

There are several Sony BVU-950's on ebay right now... with starting 
bids around $50 or so. They've been going for around $200-$300 or less, 
depending on condition and how intensely bidders want that particular 
machine.

The 950 was the last model in the broadcast (BVU) series.

Most have built in Time Base Correctors and time code readers, if 
that's important to the library and your users.

Since it's the "last" in the series... these machines are likely to be 
in better condition than older machines like BVU 800's or the 
industrial models of the same era... say the VO-5800/5850 editors.

The last Sony industrial machine was the VO-9850. It and the BVU 950 
have many similarities.

If you buy on ebay, ask questions... especially about the condition of 
the machine and what kind of use its had.  Most importantly, "Is it in 
good working condition?  No idiosyncrasies?"

Manuals are available on ebay also.

If bidding on ebay for something that's unfamiliar isn't something you 
want to do, you might see if one of the engineers who does side work 
would investigate for you and then make sure the machine is in good 
shape before passing it on to you.  You can set some financial 
guidelines or boundaries and let her or him work within those.

Hope this is helpful and that you're able to get a new workhorse for 
the stable.  Or maybe two... just so you have a backup.

Ted