The problem with this VCR was that when I took the front cover off to remove a tangled up videotape, I accidentally broke two of these tall tactile buttons. I don't have any replacements in my stash of stuff and I'm not going to order a whole set of them just to get two, so I'm going to replace them something else.
I've taken the two bad ones out and soldered some JST connectors in their place
Since I have the VCR open, here's something for folks who haven't seen the insides of a VCR working
I don't know why, but it's so much more fun to me to repair something in an obvious and crude fashion than it is to fix it to look like new. It's like kintsugi, but for non-pottery things.
The repair gets to tell a story. The VCR has a scar now that speaks to an event in its life. Something happened to it, and it now one-of-a-kind.
What are we, after all, but the sum of our experiences? Why should consumer goods be denied the same?
Also, I should give credit where credit is due, and thank @ArchiteuthisFlux for sending me the excellent wood-grain dymo tape I used here
@MLE_online I wasn't expecting metaphysic from a vcr repair!!
@MLE_online @ArchiteuthisFlux where did that tape come from? It's amazing
@ketmorco @MLE_online I’m not sure why wood grain Dymo tape seems to find me in antique stores. It’s not my style, but the kinds of people whose style it is are. So I always buy it when I find it to make sure it gets into the proper hands.
But yeah Dymo made it in the 70’s.
If you have a good use for it I’ll send you some.
@ArchiteuthisFlux @ketmorco They also have it for sale new, but the new stuff looks less cool
@MLE_online @ketmorco Retvrn to 3-color halftoned wood grain.
@MLE_online @ketmorco ooh actually 2 color. I think the stuff Emily has is different though.
@ArchiteuthisFlux @ketmorco that's what mine looks like!
@ArchiteuthisFlux @MLE_online I'll deffo have to keep my eye out for some. I don't think I would say that I have a good use for it aside from just having it on hand... at least currently
@MLE_online Adding more life creates possibilities of more experiences. I just hate the wasteful act of throwing away usable stuff and also wasting the opportunity for creativity.
@MLE_online the object has a greater personal attachment.
@MLE_online there are a few people who do YouTube channels with "repairs of random electronics returns".
Thing that jumps out at me with so many repairs is how much stuff is just cheap plastic casing wrapped around some core electronics. Your repair highlights this very well.
@gatesvp Newer stuff is very plasticky. It's nice to work with older electronics that have more metal in them
@MLE_online I restore old arcade games and, while it's fun to get them as close to "new" looking as possible, it's also nice to leave the random early 80's cigarette burns on the control panel.
@Zodypop oh yea, you gotta keep those
@MLE_online YES! I was about to to comment how its an opportunity for way more fun buttons- which you totally did! If your gonna take it apart an repair it- might as well OWN IT! Nice work!
@JamesAkers Exactly! You gotta have fun with it
@MLE_online If it doesn't look hacked then how can you call it properly "fixed"?
@MLE_online I love this too! Also seeing a toggle switch like this on ANYTHING always has me super intrigued, DYMO label or no.
@MLE_online Hey, as long it works...
To be honest this doesn't look that bad.
@MLE_online love it. Similar vibes from my USB audio dongle that the phono/line select exploded in. Just repaired yesterday with chunky min toggle, perfect!
@ga5p0d3 that looks so excellent