Vintage Video
EIAJ Helical Scan Video Tape Reel
Complete pricing below.
EIAJ-1 is a standard B&W ½-inch wide open reel video tape format that was introduced in 1969 with industry consensus between Sony, Panasonic, and others. This was the first ½-inch video format to conform to a standard and tapes are interchangeable between recording and playback equipment made by different manufacturers.
EIAJ-2 added color to the standard in 1974 (however color was not widely used). EIAJ (Electronics Industries Association of Japan) tape transports at a speed of 7.5ips. EIAJ and most 1/2-inch tape formats have the audio track along the top edge of the tape (away from the machine) and control track along the bottom edge (close to machine). Operational color playback equipment is limited.
EIAJ CARTRIDGE (Omnivision)
Complete pricing below.
EIAJ Video Tape Cartridge (Omnivision) was developed by Panasonic in 1969 and conforms to the 1969 EIAJ ½-inch video standard. The cartridge is self-threading, is convenient for the operator, and was used in educational and professional settings. Each cartridge contains a single spool of ½-inch wide video tape and normally plays for 30 minutes, Many EIAJ cartridges recorded after 1974 have color video. Tapes have Panasonic NV-P530 or Hitachi brand names. EIAJ cartridge machines include Panasonic/ National NV-5110, NV-5125 (color), and NV-5130A. Operational playback machines are rare.
CV, SKIP FIELD video tape transfer
Complete pricing below.
CV (Consumer Video), "Skip Field", was introduced by Sony in 1965 and is a proprietary ½-inch wide B&W open reel video tape format that pre-dates 1969 EIA standards. CV is a helical scan skip-field video format and has approx. 200 lines of resolution. ½-inch open reel tapes are typically 30 minute (5-inch diameter) or 60 minute (7-inch diameter) and were manufactured by many companies. CV tape speed is 19.05cm/s (7.5ips). Operational playback equipment is limited and tapes are often unplayable but can usually be recovered.
Panasonic, Concord "NV" Video Tape format
CONCORD, Panasonic 'NV' video tape reel transfer to file: $65 (5-inch, 30 minute), $110 (7-inch, 60 minute). Complete pricing below.
Panasonic “NV”/ Concord is a proprietary ½-inch wide B&W open reel helical scan video tape format introduced by Panasonic in 1965 and pre-dates 1969 EIA standards. National Video (NV) was a brand name of the Matsushita company before changing to the more recognized Panasonic name in 1988. Panasonic manufactured customized machines for Concord. The NV format uses standard 1/2-inch open reel video tape that plays for 40 minutes. The tape transports at a speed is 30.48cm/s (12ips). Machines include Panasonic NV-8100 and Concord VTR-620 and VTR-1120. Operational playback equipment is rare.
SHIBADEN video tape reel
Complete pricing below.
Shibaden video tape format was introduced by Shiba Electric and Denshi (Japan) in 1967 and is a proprietary ½-inch wide B&W open reel video tape format that pre-dates the 1969 EIA standard. Shibaden is a helical scan skip field format and is not compatible with other skip field formats. Shibaden has approx. 300 lines of resolution. Equipment was marketed under the names of Shibaden, Apeco Teletape, Bell & Howell, and a similar format by Bang & Olfson (Denmark). It uses standard 1/2" inch wide video tape and transports at a speed of 19.05cm/s (7.5ips). Operational playback equipment is rare.
Sony Pilot Tone AV-5000A
Sony AV-5000A Pilot Tone is a standard EIAJ B&W and proprietary non-standard pilot tone Color video format released by Sony in 1968. This color format is not compatible with its AV-5000 predicessor or any other format. This pilot tone format uses standard 1/2" video tape and the video output conforms to standard B&W EIA and NTSC color TV signal requirements. B&W tapes are interchangeable between other EIAJ videocorders but require the correct machine to reproduce color. Operational equipment is rare.
CVC Technicolor cassette tape
Complete pricing below.
CVC (Compact Video Cassette) Funai Technicolor Cassette was developed by a joint venture between Funai and Technicolor in 1980 and is a portable color video tape format. The small size of CVC and ease of operation was intended to compete with 8mm movie film; the cassette is similar in size to a standard audio cassette. Tapes are labeled V30, V45, and V60 and are 30, 45, 60 minutes respectively.
Vcord-I, Vcord-II Video tape Cassette
Vcord-I and Vcord II video cassette to file: $65+$6 per minute; $125 per tape max. Complete pricing below.
V-Cord I is a proprietary video cassette format released jointly by Sanyo and Toshiba in 1974 to compete with open reel video formats. The tan colored VT-20C cassettes play for 20 minutes at normal speed and 60 minutes at Slow speed in a VTC-7100 machine. V-Cord I machines include the Sanyo VTC-7100 (15lb, portable).
V-Cord II was released by Sanyo in 1976 and added color, increased recording time, has two recording speeds, freeze frame, and slow motion. V-Cord II black colored V-60 and V-120 cassettes play for 60 and 120 minutes respectively at LP speed and half as much time at the STD (standard) speed.
Testimonials
Greentree, you have provided some of the best customer service I ever experienced with an online company.
Kudo to you! Marsha
Thanks a lot for your effort is recovering these very old TV station 1" Type-A tapes. The material from the Download is as good as we can expect. Great work!!!! Santiago, Columbia
[Re, CV video tape reels to mp4 files on flash drive] Great work! It was special to see home movies from 1969. I am planning to send more tapes later this week.
Frank Illinois 60030
[Re. CVC Technicolor to mp4 files on flash drive] Thanks Greentree, the videos lookgreat and it has been a pleasure working with you.
Carlos Austin Texas 78752
Thanks again for the nice video transfer [5" EIAJ video reel to h264.mp4 file DOwnload] and your customer service is great!
Cheers, Kevin from British Columbia, Canada
Great to see these 3 IVC tapes have survived, thanks so much... Good to get these out while most of the folf in the video are still alive!!
Jim Pittsboro NC 27312
OMG I would hug you if I could, you can't imagine what [PAL CVC tapes to mp4 files on flash drive] this means to me and my family... My Dad and Aunt are on these tapes and sadly are not with us any more. You brought tears to my eyes, you did such a great job with these tapes that Mom hand carried from Spain.
Sara TX Texas 78078
Thanks so much for transferring this Karex video tape reel to mp4 file for Download. I am amazed at the quality of both the audio and video!! This was filmed almost 49 years ago!! Download worked well and I'll make a copy on flash drive to share. If I come across anything else, will keep you in mind. Best Regards, Greg Arkansas 99507
How it works:
2. Print our SHIPPING LABEL from the tab at the top of the web page.
3. Number your tapes/media, keep a list, and enclose titles and contact info.
4. Seal in plastic bags, pack well, use tracking, and save the number.
5. We confirm arrival, email findings after recorded, and bill using PayPal.
Paypal accepts credit cards - you do not need to be a member.
Prepay and checks accepted; make checks payable to "GreentreeAV".
6. Most orders: Postal Priority mail $10.00. Heavy or International: actual cost.
7. Order shipped after payment. Normal completion is 4 weeks.
Did you know - the early days of video recording was like the "wild, wild west" of video where every company thought they had the best recording format and all were non-compatible with each other. These "format wars" (similar to VHS vs Beta) in early days of 1/2" video tape reels resulted in 6 non-compatible formats that could be recorded on the same tape reels including: CV, NV, AV5000, AV5000A, Shibaden, and finally standardized EIAJ-1, 2.