VHS Collecting

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Hello all,

Do you or someone you know collect VHS tapes? I have wondered for a while who is buying VHS tapes at thrift shops? I have a small collection of DVDs that is slowly growing, but I couldn't see why someone would want to watch a VHS tape in this day and age.

I can see why someone would want to purchase VHS tapes for the purpose of digitalizating rare content to share online. But the shear amount of space it would take to maintain a large collection would be emence.

I found out that a distant family member actually still prerecords TV shows with their VCR. That's pretty crazy, eh? I'm guessing that the percentage of people who still use a VCR regularly as it's intended purpose, can't be more than 5% of the population.

So, what are your thoughts on this? Do you still own a VCR and if so do you still use it?

I own a VCR but I rarely use it. I like to watch a few old VHS tapes I recorded from the telly from time to time. Yes, it's stuff that isn't available on DVD our online. Plus you get old ads and things, it's a nostalgia trip. But there's nothing about the experience that's better than more modern technologies, imo. It's not like vinyl records.

In terms of collecting VHS tapes, I have a few ex-rental tapes that I suppose would be collectable. Rental tapes came in larger boxes than their retail counterparts and often had artwork that was different to the retail versions and the film release so you'd never see it anywhere else. Blockbuster used to sell off its ex-rental tapes sometimes so I would buy films I liked for the artwork. The tapes themselves had usually been played many times and were not in great shape.

I've been known to crack open a tape, cut it and tie one end to a 4 X 1/2" skyrocket.
It makes an impressive 400' shiny line in the sky, but the wind has to be right so it doesn't blow into the forest.