A Collector's Guide to Rare VHS Tapes Including the History, Care and Building of Your Videotape Collection
What You Will Find On This Page of Tapes, VHS...
If you are looking for an affordable way to transfer your home movies to a digital format or DVD, you might be interested in reading my page, The Pinnacle Video Transfer Device ~~ A Simple Device To Transfer VHS Videotapes to Digital Files and DVD.
- The History of the VHS Tape
- Care of Your Old Video Tapes
- Building Your VHS Videotape Collection
- A Final Note Worth Considering About Your VCR
- VHS Movies That Are Available Through My Auctions on eBay
- Never Forget: The Humble, Indispensable VHS ~~ A Newspaper Article
- Some Rare Movies and Films Are Only Available On VHS
- Spotlight on For Better or For Worse: The Bestest Present
- Great Places To Buy VHS Tapes
- Need A New VCR? Check out these VHS DVD combination units!
- Prolong The Life Of Your VCR By Cleaning The Heads
- And By Using A Rewinder To Rewind Your Tapes
- Rare VHS Tapes in Blog Posts
- Hard-to-Find VHS Tapes in Blog Posts
- The Pinnacle Video Transfer Device ~~ A Simple Device To Transfer Your Videotapes to Digital Files
- Are you searching for a special film that is only available on VHS?
The History of the VHS Tape
Videotapes from 1976 to 2006
Video Home System (VHS) was born in 1976. By the 1990s, it was the standard format to record on. DVDs were born in 1997 and it was in 2003 that DVDs first outsold VHS tapes. By 2006, most studios had stopped releasing new movies in VHS format. However, VHS tapes are not dead and there is still a market for VHS tapes. There are people who simply have not upgraded to DVD yet. However, there are also a number of collectors who want titles that have not been released on and may never be released on DVD or newer formats. In 2005, The Washington Post reported that 94.7 million American homes still owned VCRs. Care of Your Old Video Tapes
Your VHS tapes will last longer if you take care of them properly.
- Store tapes between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 40 to 60 percent humidity. If you are comfortable, probably your tapes are.
- Avoid sudden temperature changes, even within these recommended zones. Neither cold, damp basements nor hot, dusty attics are good choices for storing your tapes.
- Be especially careful of condensation - allow at least 24 hours before using when you change the temperature or humidity of your tape.
- Keep the tapes evenly wound and always rewind them fully. If the tape looks uneven, wind it again. If possible, rewind at slower speeds.
- Store tapes upright as you would books and keep them in their original cases. You can buy plastic cases to store them in but even the cardboard cases do a good job of keeping the dust away.
- Put the labels on correctly, where they belong and do not add labels on top of labels. They can interfere with cassette loading and possibly come off inside your VCR.
- Exercise your tapes once every three years by rewinding or forwarding them.
- Avoid magnetic fields - the field around any magnet. Your tapes can be erased so do not store them near speakers, motors, toys or other magnetic sources.
- Transfer your footage every seven years. That helps prevent the images and sounds from fading away.
Building Your VHS Videotape Collection
What to watch for when buying rare and hard-to-find VHS tapes
There are still new copies of VHS tapes available in various marketplaces. This includes movies and films that have not yet and may never appear on DVD. These tapes can be extremely rare and if you find one, usually the seller only has one available. If you see a copy of a title that fits this category, do not hesitate and let it get away!Old video tapes come in very different states of repair. Some have been well watched. Often they have rental stickers and the boxes are in rough shape. Common sense will tell you that, if the outside of a tape is in rough condition, the inside might not be in great shape either.
If you choose to buy a used video tape, it is very important that you consider the condition carefully. What condition is the box in? The cassette? In the event of an online purchase of a video tape, I believe that condition should be even more carefully assessed and discussed and, most importantly, that the seller should be willing to guarantee that the item is in working order. After all, paying the cost of an item plus a shipping charge is a considerable investment on your part.
Picture quality is a bit more difficult to evaluate. Remember that if you are purchasing a film originally made long before the advent of VHS and then put into VHS format in the 1980s, it will probably still look like an old film. However, the tape itself should play without any difficulties.
Rarity, popularity and condition of the cassette and the case determine the pricing. A brand-new VHS tape of a rare film may be a one-of-a-kind find. In that case, it is definitely worth more and the increase in cost may be worth it to you since you know you will be purchasing an item that has not been previously viewed.
A Final Note Worth Considering About Your VCR
If you are collecting VHS tapes, make sure you have a good VCR!
An important consideration if you are collecting VHS tapes is that it probably will not be long before manufacturers stop making VCRs since they have discontinued issuing new movies on VHS tapes. Do you have a good VCR that is going to allow you to continue to enjoy your movie collection? If not, now is probably the best time to buy a good one while they are still available!I hope that the information in this guide is helpful to you when you are shopping for video tapes for your collection. I would love to help you find a title you have been searching for. Make sure to have a look at the videos I have listed in my eBay store, Treasures By Brenda, by clicking on this link. You never know what I might have in store for you!
VCRs Vanishing...VCRs have never been as important as some of the things that showed up on a recent list of the top 25 vanishing things, like the family farm, but for around 30 years, the VCR was a basic tool in most homes. Today, VCRs and videotapes are almost gone with the only retail reminders being a few lonely, blank VHS tapes. Pre-recorded tapes are not made anymore and VCRs can be hard to find!
Buy Rare Video Tapes in My eBay Store
You never know what old movies I might have in store for you...
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More Rare Old VHS Video Cassettes Available In My Store
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byVHS Movies That Are Available Through My Auctions on eBay
These items are available at auction from my eBay store, Treasures By Brenda. If there are no items in this box, it is either because my eBay store is closed or because I have no VHS tapes at auction right now. In the latter case, you can still purchase VHS tapes from me that are listed in my store. A preview of these tapes is available in the sections immediately above this one.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byNever Forget: The Humble, Indispensable VHS ~~ A Newspaper Article
By Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle, January 16, 2009
Only about 25 percent of movies made before VHS were released on VHS. Today, just 50 percent of the movies issued on VHS are available on DVD. This means that there are a large number of movies that are simply gone. If the movies on VHS are allowed to simply slip away, they will be gone forever. People, particularly young people, are going to start collecting VHS the way they are collecting records today. Not because they are better but because they have a wider selection. Because if we do not, then many movies are simply going to disappear.
This article closes with the tale of customer looking for a movie they saw when they were 12 but being disgusted at only finding it available on VHS. If that is the only way to watch a movie you love, then shouldn't you be happy to watch it!?! Don't give up on videotapes! Read the full article by following the link below.
- Screens: Never Forget: The humble, indispensable VHS - The Austin Chronicle
- Alamo Drafthouse programmers Lars Nilsen and Zack Carlson talk about the rise of Netflix and their enduring love for old-fashioned tape.
Building your VHS tape collection?
Some Rare Movies and Films Are Only Available On VHS
Some of the films produced on VHS will not be released on DVD since the producers of DVDs want to produce those items they know they can sell. One business built up their VHS movie collection over 30-years and had over 50,000 movies on VHS; they have been steadily building a collection on DVD but say they do not have anywhere near that many movies on DVD.Some films that have not been released on DVD have interesting stories behind their absence. Take, for instance, Barbra Streisand's 1983 movie Yentl. Until 2009, it was not available on DVD even though it won an Oscar for Best Music and received great reviews. Most of her movies were on DVD but, for some reason, not Yentl. She told Oprah that she worked on the extras for the DVD and it was available in Region 2 in Europe but not in North America. I am sure there were grateful fans when this movie finally appeared.
Spotlight on For Better or For Worse: The Bestest Present
Popular animated Christmas special available on videotape only.
This is a very popular Christmas television special that is not available on DVD. However, sometimes it is available new and used through various sellers at Amazon or on eBay although beware that the rarity and popularity of this item dictates the price and new copies can sell for $50.
To find a copy of 'For Better or For Worse: The Bestest Present' click here.
Great Places To Buy VHS Tapes
Online sources for finding that videotape you are looking for.
- Treasures By Brenda
- Click here to see all of the rare, hard-to-find or out-of-print VHS tapes that are listed in my eBay store.
- Amazon's VHS Pages
- A direct connection to Amazon.com's VHS video section.
- eBay
- Naturally, eBay is another great source for hard-to-find movies.
- The Tape Place
- Original, out-of-print VHS movie and music video tapes.
- The Video Den Collection at Rare Hollywood.com
- Rare DVD, VHS and Laserdisc titles.
Have You Seen These Rare Films by Disney
Available On VHS videotape only!
![The Life and Times of Secretariat - An American Racing Legend [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/215KHDFCADL._SL75_.jpg)
More great videos...
Rare old VHS movies and films.
The Cheaters (The Castaway)
Thought-provoking dramedy follows the members of a rich family as they prepare for their Christmas celebrations. Taken by the spirit of giving, they decide to help out a struggling actor by giving him food and shelter for the holiday season. Quickly, they discover the consequences of their actions when their guest provides them with a fresh perspective on life. AKA: "The Castaway."
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) 
List Price:
Used Price: $59.98
![Mike Douglas Show with John Lennon & Yoko Ono [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31FMMK9QWBL._SL75_.gif)
Mike Douglas Show with John Lennon & Yoko Ono [VHS]
If you love John and Yoko, identify with their truly human blend of idealism and realism, and feel that the world has digressed politically since 1972, this tape is for you. Other guests include Black Panther leader Bobby Seale, political activist Jerry Rubin, consumer activist Ralph Nader, radical comedian George Carlin, and many other socially relevant people give valuable context to these two unique and precious people. It's the human message in a variety of forms, and these perspectives are, at least to me, every bit as relevant now as they were then. And John and Yoko do interact with them all. All in all, a real slice of life from the era.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price: $59.98
Used Price: $54.18
The Monkees The Collector's Edition - Box Set
Includes 6 volumes: Vol 1 - Here Come The Monkees, Too Many Girls, Hitting The High Seas. Vol 2 - Monkee See Monkee Die, Alias Micky Dolenz, Hillbilly Honeymoon. Vol 3 - Captain Crocodile, The Picture Frame, Fairy Tale. Vol 4 - Success Story, Everywhere A SheikSheik, Monkees in Texas. Vol 5 - the Spy Who Came in From the Cool, Monkees at the Circus, Monkees Mind Their Manor. Vol 6 - Royal Flush, Monkee Mayor, The Christmas Show. Each tape is approximately 80 minutes in length and was originally filmed between 1966-1967.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
List Price:
Used Price: $48.98
Hot Tamales, Oops! I Mean Hot Videotapes! These Old VHS Tapes Are Hard To Find!
If Any Of These Old Movies Catches Your Eye, You Had Better Bid Now Before They Are Gone! These Ones Go To The Highester Bidder When The Auction Closes!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byNeed A New VCR? Check out these VHS DVD combination units!
It is never too soon to replace your aging machine, or better yet, buy a back-up while they are still available!
Samsung DVD-VR375 1080p Up-Converting VHS Combo DVD Recorder
Amazon Price: $167.39 (as of 07/10/2009)
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Sony SLV-D380P DVD/VCR Tunerless Progressive Scan DVD/VHS Combo Player
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Toshiba DVR610 1080p Upconverting Tunerless VHS DVD Recorder
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
JVC DRMV100B 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder VCR Combo with Built-in Tuner
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Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK 1080p Upconverting VHS DVD Recorder with Built In Tuner
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 07/10/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Prolong The Life Of Your VCR By Cleaning The Heads
And By Using A Rewinder To Rewind Your Tapes
Rare VHS Tapes in Blog Posts
- Treasures By Brenda, A Lensmaster & An eBay Power Seller ยป Rare ...
- My Rare VHS Tapes ~~ A Collector's Guide to Videotapes lens continues to amaze me. It runs along pretty much like a good movie does staying in or around the top 10000 pages on Squidoo with only an occasional update from me to keep it ...
- fangirling, etc. - in praise of jumpy VHS tapes
- If you're collecting rare VHS tapes, you nned to make sure you know how to look after them. I've written a guide to the history, care and collecting of videocassettes at Rare VHS Tapes. I hope you'll visit! Brenda ...
- Boing Boing: Finding rare artsy video gems online
- In many cases, these rare film clips are posted by amateur film buffs who've scooped up film reels or rare VHS tapes from eBay or local sales, and then digitized them for online viewing. A handful of Web sites and blogs, ...
Hard-to-Find VHS Tapes in Blog Posts
- Some Assorted Thoughts: The Demise of VHS
- yeah I encounter quite a few films I want to check out that simply aren't available in Netflix or onamazon.com. I visit this site www.cultrararevideos.com has a lot of hard to find VHS movies transferred to download format. ...
- Rough Guide to Anime - Mania.com
- Anime has been a huge part of my life and I've watched it go from being $30 hard to find VHS tapes to something that plays religiously on Cartoon Network. But anime goes back further than that, much much further, and ?The Rough Guide to ...
- Rants of a Diva: To All My American Readers Who Get Turner Classic ...
- The film is not available on DVD, only on a hard to find VHS. 4. If you remember from a couple months ago when I posted my film log from the Silent Era, I included The Big Parade as the second best film of the entire era (just behind ...
The Pinnacle Video Transfer Device ~~ A Simple Device To Transfer Your Videotapes to Digital Files
Here is one way to transfer your VHS videotapes to a digital format.
Are you searching for a simple way to transfer your VHS videotapes, your home movies, to a digital format? The Pinnacle Video Transfer Device is a simple, fairly easy-to-use and, most importantly, affordable device.-
The Pinnacle Video Transfer Device ~~ A Simple Device To Transfer VHS Videotapes to Digital Files and even DVD
-
People everywhere are searching for ways to transfer their VHS videotapes, especially their home movies, to a digital format. Others want to record images from their DVD player, DVR, set-top box or even their gaming console. If you are one of those p...
Are you searching for a special film that is only available on VHS?
What do you think about my Lens? I'd love to hear from you!
WhitePineLane wrote...
This is a really great lens! I sell VHS tapes in my eBay store as well. You'd be surprised how many parents are looking for kids' shows on VHS! You've done a really thorough job here. Five stars, favorited, and lensrolled to my Kid Vids Showcase!
Posted July 08, 2009
CCGAL wrote...
Wow - I had no idea vhs tapes were a hot commodity. I should start paying more attention. I learned a lot from reading this lens - not only about vhs tapes, but also I noticed how you constructed this lens. Much appreciated!
Posted June 19, 2009
Susan52 wrote...
Excellent lens, a great reference. We do have fairly many VHS tapes (probably nothing valuable) and still a VHS player that works. Not sure what we'll do when that bites the dust, though.
Posted May 05, 2009
Snozzle wrote...
Certainly given me food for thought. Have never looked at VHS tapes in this way or that they may be of value.Must look into this further. Many thanks.
Mike.
Posted April 18, 2009
'Be Kind Rewind' Gifts
Be Kind Rewind Mousepad
"Be Kind Rewind"
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Price: 14.79
VHS Sticker (Oval)
"I still watch my movies on VHS mug."
Fun bumper sticker -- designed not to fade in the sun or bleed in the rain.
Price: 9.99
Be Kind and Rewind Mug
"Please... Be Kind and Rewind!"
A popular video store reminder from the golden years of VHS, comes back to life on this unique and retro gift idea.
Price: 14.99
'Retro' VHS T-Shirts ~~ Perfect For A VHS Collector
Retro VHS Fan Black T-Shirt
"VHS - The Future of Home Video Entertainment"
VHS, the winner of the first home video format war now plays second fiddle to DVD. Turn the clock back with this vintage-aged graphic t-shirt.
Price: 24.99
Be Kind and Rewind Dark T-Shirt
"Please... Be Kind and Rewind!"
A popular video store reminder from the golden years of VHS, comes back to life on this unique and retro gift idea.
Price: 24.99
Fuji Videocassette Tape Advertisement
A Little Bit of Modern History
Photo By Amanda E. Lauter
by Treasures-By-Brenda
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