CED VideoDisc and Player Discussion

[ketonic_dude]

Oh my have I had quite the endeavour. Found the jackpot but it was hell to get and it ain't over yet. Had to go to Albion, Nebraska to get this load about a 5 hour drive. I was hoping to do it in one day. Well the wife wanted to come with so I took the family for a little road trip. All went well on the way down. Found the guys house ok, and spoke with him for a little while. Apparently his mother owned the Zenith Dealership in Albion, NE there and he bought both these players from the shop as well as a VP2000. He told me that it was towards the end and nobody bought these so that's why he picked them up. He said the shop didn't sell discs though so he had to go to Columbus, NE to get discs. He told me that since it was towards the end of CED the video store in Columbus there was selling the discs off in big lots, auction style. He picked up this lot of about 150 discs and said he would have got another lot of 200 but some other guy there was talking to him and made him loose focus. Well we chatted a little more about cars and stuff since he had car plaques and models everywhere, said his dad owned the Ford dealership in town. He was a very interesting character. So I loaded up and was on our way home. We drove about an hour then stopped for supper and refuelled. Got another 2 hours and then the car started shaking and the front passenger side wheel came right off. Luckily I was able to get to the side of the road but this was 8pm and -6 out. I had to call AAA and it took almost an hour to get a tow truck but because of conditions he would only bring it to a local shop. So we had to spend the night in a hotel and call someone in the morning to come get us since the shop was full up with all the cars that had gone in the ditch the day before. So I had to leave all the discs and players in the back as you see them. I don't even know what discs there are other than 5 or 6 that I saw while loading them. But I guess we are lucky to be alive cause it could have been much worse. Hopefully in a few days here the shop will call and tell me the car is fixed, then I can go get it and get more pictures to you guys. I'm sure you all have tons of questions. Hopefully I can answer some of them here. There are two VP4000's. One is complete in the box with all the packaging, still sealed remote, and still sealed instruction book but it has been removed from the box and used. The other unit is just the unit, I assume he lost the remote somewhere down the line. He had one machine hooked up this entire time and said he used it as his main player. When he went to take it out of his stereo cabinet he nicked the top of the faceplate on a latch and didn't get the coax cable unscrewed all the way and ripped the connection out of the back of the machine. An easy solder fix. He said both machines work and the one that wasn't his main player has only had about 5 discs through it it's entire life. I assume that's the one in the box. I wasn't able to examine serials and match them to the box so I'm not sure if the machine in the box is the one with only 5 discs through it or not, I will check when I get them home. I can post more pictures then as well. This is the only picture I took on the way back. It's been so crazy and I'm just glad to be home. Can't wait to hear what you guys think.

[img][/img]

[blindfury420]

First thankfully you guys are ok, like you said that could have been really, really bad!

Lol haha I don't even know what to say, what a ridiculous find! Not one but two! hahah ffs.... Are you willing to part with the one in the box? I would be willing to trade one to a few of the crazy rare ones. You know what disc's!!

If serials don't match I'd be willing to take the messed up coaxial one with the box! Just dreaming at the moment haha.

Was this a craigslist find?

Awesome find! Completely jelly!!! haha
_________________
I dont own

McMicheal 5001h
Hitachi VIP202P
JCP 686-5705
RCA SKT265, SKT300
RCA SJT400X, SJT425

[ketonic_dude]

Ryan, this was a dumb luck find actually. This gentleman listed the VP2000 on ebay. I was looking at the pictures on the listing and he showed it playing The Day After so I messaged him to see if he would sell me The Day After disc or if he had any more discs. Well to my shock he emailed me back and said he had about 150 discs and 2 Zenith 4000 machines. I was well, shocked and assumed there had to be some kind of mistake. I looked up his location and saw he was only about 5 hours from me so I figured if I could get a good enough deal on the discs I would just go get them and if the players where what he said they are then even better but I was still sceptical. Well we messaged back and forth for a bit on ebay and came to a agreement on a price for the discs. Lets just say I was pleasantly surprised when i got there and saw these two machines where exactly what he said they were. The whole time I was thinking in my head "Ryan doesn't even have one of these." Of course I had in mind that if they were what he said they were that I would sell you one Ryan. I'm hoping Tom weighs in here because I'd like to know if he has the remote or anything else for his machine? The only picture I've seen of one of these is pictures of the one Tom owns. I'm curious as to just how many of these are even in existence. Tom's and these two are the only 3 that I know of, which is pretty scarce if you think about how many of the other model players are out there. I will keep you updated Ryan.

[blindfury420]

Hahah awesome Josh! I am glad I am in the mind of collectors hahah!

I always mean to talk to people about stuff they might have.. I just forget haha! IIRC most of your awesome finds are from talking to the people right? Gotta love it!! Finding stuff they might not have even sold! Good job man!

Yep as far as I know Tom is the only one with one or even picture of his!

What does the remote look like? Is it wireless?

If you want to discuss anything concerning a trade or the like go ahead and email me! I'm sure I have enough things to make a trade or sale tempting to you!!

Thanks for replying so fast and for keeping me updated!!

*edit loool It was this one!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CED-Disc-Movie-Player-Zenith-VP2000-/271377716731?nma=true&si=DeX1w8JO7QLyvuhita%252BrCRXeBwE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I saw it and I honestly wondered what he meant by more sophisticated model, j/k 300, j/k400...nope two friggin vp4000's hahah
_________________
I dont own

McMicheal 5001h
Hitachi VIP202P
JCP 686-5705
RCA SKT265, SKT300
RCA SJT400X, SJT425

[ketonic_dude]

Yeah I've got other collectors on my mind more and more lately. I search through tons of listings and all kinds of stuff trying to find the 40ish titles I have left and I'll come across something and know who is looking for it. I actually find most of the good stuff by talking to people. If someone lists a hard to find disc or rare item on ebay I will message them and ask if they are selling anything else. That way I can know if they have good stuff before it gets posted. Sometimes they wern't even planning to post it or were going to throw it away or who knows, always a good idea to ask. That's how I found Savage Streets and now these VP4000's so whatever I'm doing it seems to be working. Now if only I could stumble upon a Memories disc or The Story of O.

That would be the correct ebay listing. He said if the VP2000 didn't sell I could buy that too less shipping cost of course but someone bought it and he didn't want to mess up his feedback rating. Which I am kinda glad someone bought it because I already have 2 VP2000's, one in the box no less. I will have to put the VP2000 I have in box next to the VP4000 I have in box to pose for some pics. But I am sure we can work something out. Send me an email and we can get the ball rolling.

As far as the remote, I only saw it for a brief min but it is corded and I think plugs into the back of the player but don't quote me on that. It was still sealed in plastic as was the baggie with the instruction book and registration card. I can't wait to get them home so I can check everything out, and it's killing me to not know what discs are there.

[blindfury420]

Very cool you are looking out for others since your collection is almost complete!

I have doubles of a few you haven't stumbled upon, which means they can go for the right trade! We have talked about that before too haha!

I see a few black caddies! I wonder what disc's you have too!

I will send an email in a few here!
_________________
I dont own

McMicheal 5001h
Hitachi VIP202P
JCP 686-5705
RCA SKT265, SKT300
RCA SJT400X, SJT425

[ketonic_dude]

I will have to get you an updated list Ryan but I won't be able to update it until after I get these home. I know loading them up I saw one that I didn't have, one of the Wimbledon discs. I don't think there are any black caddies, he had them stored on their sides and what your seeing is about 30 years of dust build up which makes some of the blue ones look back with the lighting I had, but I'm not 100 percent positive. Like I said it's driving me crazy not knowing what I have there. As of right now I'm only about 40 titles shy and I've been talking to Jason who is rounding up about 10-15 of those for me, depending on what I've got in the back of the car. So I'm certainly less than 30 titles at this point. But just email me as we can discuss it.

[blindfury420]

Hhaha I totally thought they were black!

Email sent buddy!
_________________
I dont own

McMicheal 5001h
Hitachi VIP202P
JCP 686-5705
RCA SKT265, SKT300
RCA SJT400X, SJT425

[Brian Stearns]

wow, great collection. must be very heavy, glad your safe. I remember breaking down its not fun

So the extreme cold weather does not effect the ceds?

let me know if you find King Kong 1976 both parts

[ketonic_dude]

We were just talking about that on facebook Brian. If you've ever broken a CED you know they are very brittle unlike a record that can flex. Therefore the cold makes them a lot more delicate so you have to be very careful not to jostle them around too much when they are cold. But other than that the cold does not affect the quality of the disc, it still plays the same once it's warmed up. Not a good idea to put a cold disc in a player or it could explode. Plus I'm sure if played when cold the silicone might not distribute correctly. Whenever I have cold discs I always bring them in and let them warm up before handling them too much or playing them.

[Rixrex]

That has to be the find of the century, so far. Two 4000s, let alone just one, is miraculous. I've had some "dumb luck" finds like that, but nothing as nice as finding a 4000.

I assume the 4000 has AV output, being stereo, so no big deal about the RF on the one. Fix it eventually I suppose. If you get one to Fury, then that would whittle down his list big time.

[ketonic_dude]

Thanks Rix, yeah I couldn't believe it either. I know Ryan is trying to get all the players so one of these will be going to him for sure. As far as the other one I'm not sure what I want to do with it yet. I love the look of it and it does have stereo a/v jacks so I'm torn if I want to keep it or sell it as well. I'll never get my hands on another one if I decide to sell it, that's for sure. If someone made the right offer I would let it go. Course I have to wait until I get my car back and get the players home before anything can happen.

[ketonic_dude]

Ryan, I was just thinking. You have the Zenith Service Disc, you could lean it up against the wall and put a VP2000 on one side of it and the VP4000 on the other side and it would be an epic pic.

[blindfury420]

[SelectaVision420]

i called it, nice find man.

i was just reminded by my girlfriend this this happened to me in my cadillac on the way to ed's house, we were on our way up there to go to a car show, and stop at his place on the way to pick up a bundle of discs, and 2 of my lugnut studs broke off, and the other lugnuts came loose, luckily i was able to tighten the remaining lugnuts and i made it home... but its funny what we will do to get stuff, you deserve that player after that endeavor.
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[ketonic_dude]

Alright guys here it is. I finally had to go down and fix my car myself because after 4 days the shop still didn't have it done. Cost me $20 for the new nuts and bolts and took me less than half an hour to get the job done. Stupid shop lost out on a lot of money. But anywho here is what you have all been waiting for.

Here are pictures of the first player. We will refer to this player as Player A. This is the player that came with a box. It is also the player that he said he used as his main player.































































Here is the second player. We will refer to this player as Player B. This player he said has only had about 5 movies through it. This player does not have anything else with it. This is also the player that had the coaxial accidentally pulled from it. I took the liberty of removing the cover on this one to get a better idea of what it looked like inside.





















































Well I think that about does it folks. As far as the 150 disc there wasn't anything major that jumped out at me. There was a Back to the Future, Jaws 3, Wimbledon 1981, Aphrodite, Papillon, Bullitt, Ladyhawke (but in a blue caddy), and The Day After, were about the best ones. Nothing super exciting but not a bad haul I guess. Well let me know what you'all think.

[blindfury420]

I think its a pretty cool player and a pretty cool toshiba clone! That being said, how do they work if the belts are clearly bad? Did the guy just not know what to tell you?
_________________
I dont own

McMicheal 5001h
Hitachi VIP202P
JCP 686-5705
RCA SKT265, SKT300
RCA SJT400X, SJT425

[ketonic_dude]

Well looking at the belts he must have meant they worked the last time he used them, or when he put them into storage, is what I am assuming. Player A had some black goop on the front disc slot so I assume he tried to insert a disc and got belt goop on it then pulled it out and got goop on the front of the player.

[blindfury420]

ah, makes much more sense now! I was like this old dude was lying to you Josh!
_________________
I dont own

McMicheal 5001h
Hitachi VIP202P
JCP 686-5705
RCA SKT265, SKT300
RCA SJT400X, SJT425

[SelectaVision420]

wooooooow!

im surprised to see it has domed pulleys instead of veed cant wait to see them workin!
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[SelectaVision420]

[kitchensynch]

This turned out to be a much bigger story than the Super Bowl...

We should call you Ketonic Chronkite
_________________
A New Vista of RCA Victor COLOR!

[Rixrex]

Yeah, Super Bowl should have been called Stupor Bowl, and pretty sad when the Pro Bowl is a better game.

Anyway, that's a real easy player to get up to speed, but really will only be reliable with a belt conversion pulley and round belt that Cbertra provides. The other two belts are easy changes.

I really like the design of these players, and have two of the mono ones with remotes. I like the metal bottom and the sturdiness of the inside design, without too much in the way of plastic parts. To be honest, I think these players are as good as any RCA in design.

Sure wish I could find one of the those stereo Zeniths, or even a atereo Toshiba to put on the CRT HD Sony XBR and use it, would be a perfect design match (the Zenith looks better, just like the mono Zentih from RCA). But you only came up with two, so I'll keep looking. I never saw one, even with all the CED players coming through Dad's shop.

I notice that the stylus cart is the 149000 model. I wonder if a 154100 would still work in this player?

[kitchensynch]

Well, I never even sw the actual game since for some reason I'm not getting much signal from the antenna after the frozen rain storm and after putting the DTV converter and it's newly-gained duplicate on the line again..,

I had my bikes chained to the mast in front and they had over 1/4" of glaze, like a fishing boat or that famous old tower in New Hampshire (Yankee Network? on Mt. Washington?) and I think it got moisture in the connections or something.

Since 4/6 networks can be had over VHF HDTV (Fox is on 10, CW and CBS on 9, NBC on 7) and Me, My and THIS on 13 and I have a two output Channel Master amp with ~20-22 dB of boost available total I am tempted to take wabbit ears and a balun or at least the 1/2 of my Trinitron's old AN-xx unit I salvaged to help a friend replace the antenna on his Weltron 'spaceman' 8-track stereo...it extend at least 3 feet, even if that's nio match for being 22 ft in the air with a 3 bowtie reflector chained to the 7 foot long VHF/UHF antenna I now use.

One of the rear VHF elements also looks to be possibly touching the last one as they are slightly crossed after the storm although I wrapped the locking joints and heat sealed them-maybe I can take a long section of the galvanized pipes I've wanted to weld a tower from and move it over.

Would crossed elements 'short' it?
_________________
A New Vista of RCA Victor COLOR!

[krbsforty]

I know I am a few months late, but that is a very neat score! I am unfamiliar with this Zenith CED player; I did not even know it existed. It looks a little bit like the Montgomery Ward CED player. It must be extremely rare. I am glad you & your family made it home safely. Just finding 1 player is good enough, but 2 of them is really something. Do you know when they were manufactured? Were you able to get them working again? Did you ever find any of the other parts for them? I am interested in hearing an update on this player.

[blindfury420]