Video summary
In this video, the host Shayfer 1000 introduces a vintage Sony VHS player purchased for just five dollars to play a specific copy of the board game "Clue." His primary motivation was not only to test if such an old device could still function but also to ensure it would handle tapes without damaging them or getting stuck. The setup process involves some minor logistical challenges, as he has to retrieve his TV remote from inside their camper by raising a bunk and accessing a drawer, while simultaneously dealing with dead batteries in the fan's controller that affect the lighting conditions during filming. Despite these initial hurdles, he successfully connects the VCR to an older television using AV cables and gets a signal on channel one, which initially displays as a blue screen before transitioning into video playback once powered up.
After confirming the unit powers on with a countdown timer display, Shayfer inserts the test tape from his collection of classic movies and finds that it works perfectly without needing any complex adjustments like tracking or head cleaning. He tests various functions including fast-forwarding, pausing, and rewinding, noting that while the picture quality is not pristine by modern standards, the audio plays clearly through chapter markers for scenes in a movie he owns. The device proves reliable enough to handle his "Clue" game tape as well; after ejecting the first one successfully, he loads the vintage 1985 Clue cartridge and watches it play without issue, confirming that both the video content and audio are intact throughout the entire runtime of the game's scenes.
Once satisfied with the performance of the Sony model, identified specifically as an SLV-N71 four-head hi-fi stereo unit likely from the late 1980s or early 1990s, Shayfer decides to investigate its potential resale value online. He checks eBay listings and finds similar units selling for between one hundred twenty-five dollars and nearly two hundred dollars, leading him to believe he could sell his cleaned-up player for anywhere between seventy-five and a hundred dollars even without professional restoration. This discovery turns the purchase into an unexpected financial win, especially since there is also another brand-name VHS player from that era available at a local store for only four dollars, which he plans to acquire next if it remains in stock.
The video concludes with Shayfer outlining his future plans to ride his bike up to their camper location to retrieve the second cheap VCR and test its functionality alongside the Sony unit. He emphasizes how surprising it is that people still buy these older devices today given their durability and low cost, comparing them favorably to vintage cameras he often collects. Before signing off, he asks viewers for five likes on the video so he can make a special trip tomorrow or Saturday to get the other player, joking about finding loose change in his couch cushions to cover any potential costs. Ultimately, the experiment is declared a success as both inexpensive VHS players are confirmed working, allowing him to enjoy classic movies and games from decades past without spending much money.
Read the full video transcript
[music]
>> Hey everyone, Shayfer 1000 here. Today
we're going to be trying out this
vintage
excuse me, Sony VHS player.
Um
we bought this because we bought the
Clue game
the VHS Clue game.
So we bought this
to play that game if it'll work.
Now I don't know if it'll work or not.
It was only five bucks.
But
I also bought this to try it out in that
way if it eats this tape, it's not
eating our
uh
good tape. So
um let's get the TV plugged in here.
I have a remote for the TV, but it's out
in the camper and in order order to get
that.
Oh, this is the VCR.
I heard I see something.
Okay, well, since that's plugged in,
let's go and plug the TV in. But
it's out in the camper in order to get
it out. I would have to raise the camper
up, pull out a bunk to get in the drawer
to get the remote for that.
Okay.
RC5 AC5, whatever that means.
Okay.
Um
this is line in. There should there a
line out on this.
Yes, there is. So
let's see.
Line
line out. Sorry about the lighting.
Uh the battery in the remote control for
the fan that has the the in it is uh
is dead and it takes a special battery
you got to order. I was complaining
about the lighting. I had this sitting
here the whole time and didn't turn it
on.
Jesus, what a goof. All right, so we got
this one here.
Now, we're going to plug this in the
back of the TV.
Okay, in.
Yeah.
Okay, got that in there.
Now,
let me see. We're going to go ahead and
turn this
TV on here.
And we've got it on AV.
Uh let's see.
I think that's the one we're on.
Let's see.
Looking for a signal AV. Um let's go
ahead and turn this on.
Right here.
Channel one. Oh, we got a blue screen up
here.
All right.
Um
let's see.
Well, there's nothing to eject, so I
guess we're just going to go ahead and
put this in there
and see what happens. I will be amazed
if it works. Honestly will.
Um we've got a timer
here.
Oh.
Something happened, but then it nothing
happened.
Okay, so it is counting down.
Says stereo.
Um
TV is on. It's on blue. Oh, there it is.
So, this works.
Um
Let's see. Is there a tracking on here?
I don't know. Let's fast forward.
Well, it does work. Wow, look at that.
Well, we can Okay, it works. I'm I mean,
I don't have a remote for it, but you
know, I don't care.
Let's see if pause works.
Yes, it does.
Um
Not sure where the tracking is on it,
but
I mean,
it's not the greatest picture,
but it is a VHS and it does work.
So, should we try the one out of the
Clue game?
Okay, let's try it. Let's go ahead and
um
Let's stop this.
And let's see if it ejects. Okay.
And it does. Wow, that plays great. Let
me grab the Clue
tape.
Hopefully, this tape's good.
This is amazing. I thought we would have
to do something, but
See, be kind, rewind. It It say that on
here, but someone didn't rewind it.
All right. Well, let's try it.
End of chapter 1.
So, the tape works.
Um
Chapter 2, scene 1.
Do we have audio?
And we do.
>> [laughter]
>> All right. Well, let's stop that.
And uh let's go ahead and rewind it all
the way and make sure the tape doesn't
like break once it hits the end of it.
But, yeah, right there it
Okay, so I'm very happy with that.
Uh people still buy these.
Um I should go and get that other one.
It was $4. It wasn't a Sony. I can't
remember the name brand of it, but it
was a name brand.
Uh
It was a name brand VHS player. I should
go get it for four bucks, right? I mean,
why not?
So, it is rewinding.
Um
But, yeah, I don't know where tracking
would be at on that.
Whoa.
This is dial timer.
You push in and turn.
Uh there's channel. Okay.
Uh your channel is your tracking, too. I
see now. Right there.
That's your tracking. Let's um
I mean, it doesn't really need to be
>> I think hemlock
>> I mean, the tracking's fine, but there
it is.
>> Curare is better. Like my daddy always
says, give me a good neuromuscular
poison any day.
>> Well,
>> [music]
>> stop the tape and everyone give a
personal identity fact, then play a
round of cards before viewing this
scene.
>> Okay, so this is going to be fun. Well,
Monkey, it works.
Um
So, yeah, everything we bought today
works. This works.
That
Walt Disney tape works.
The
um the Clue game
the tape works. I'm pretty sure it's all
there. I'll have to count cards and
everything and see, but there it is,
guys. That's uh pretty cool.
Um Monkey's like, "Ooh, that hook up to
the TV in the camper?" I'm like, "Yeah."
She goes,
"Oh, you know, you can bring movies and
stuff."
Uh
I don't know if I would want to watch a
movie on that or not, but hey,
uh it it does work. Advantage um cleaned
up. I would I I
You know what? Let me look these up and
see what they're going for just out of
curiosity. I'm sure I can get 10 bucks
out of it. It does work. Hang on, guys.
Okay, guys, so I don't think I would
have any problem
getting 100 bucks out of it.
There's one on here for 129.95.
And it it is the one we've got here.
It is the Sony
uh SLV-N71
VCR. It's a four-head hi-fi stereo.
Um
there's one in here
>> [clears throat]
>> for 125 bucks right there.
There's one there.
It's uh
bundle service $195.
This is eBay.
There's another one $119.99,
so 120. There's actually one on Walmart.
They still making these things?
And as you can see
190 bucks.
So, I'm pretty confident this works fine
if I would clean it up.
Uh maybe not 100, but I'll bet you
I'll bet you I could get 75, 80 bucks
out of it.
I mean I mean if I wanted to. Wow. Okay,
so
awesome.
Um
Yeah, I should Yeah, I should I should
go up this weekend.
See if
Monkey's not busy or maybe I I just
maybe I can just ride my bike up and
I'll bring you guys along and film it.
And we'll go get the other one cuz I can
put that in my saddlebag.
The other one's really heavy.
Real heavy. It's like
double the weight of this one.
So, let's go ahead and it finished
rewinding with no problem.
Um
And it's seems to be fine.
And it says stereo
in red there.
>> [music]
[music]
>> You want to bump to make suspect's
weapons and runes of which you all
mystery game Clue.
Watch carefully and I'll be back in a
few minutes to tell you about the game.
>> Okay, pretty cool. All right, well,
um
>> [laughter]
>> That's all right for five bucks, man.
And hell, this movie's worth five bucks.
Let's go and take this. Okay.
It's done rewinding. Let's go ahead and
um
eject this.
And I'm going to rewind this again.
Not I Not an issue. I didn't even have
to adjust the tracking on it.
That's pretty good.
I mean
I'm not sure what year that is.
I'm not sure what year that would be.
If you know, let me know. I mean
I'm guessing 80s.
Probably.
Well, I know the the Clue game is from
1985. We did look that up and it's also
on the box. It's copyrighted as 1985.
So,
um
that's a testament to this tape.
So,
I don't know what you guys think.
Let me know if uh
I'll tell you what.
How about this?
If I can get five likes
on this video,
I'll run up tomorrow and get the other
one and we'll check it out. Why not,
right? So.
All right, guys. Yeah, awesome.
Monk, it works.
Cool.
Uh let's power it off.
Power button off.
Good deal.
Um
not going to set the clock because, you
know, going to unplug it. But
so so far everything works. Uh we got to
check the racetrack out. We're going to
do that tonight.
And I'll get this video edited and put
up for you.
Five likes on this video and uh
I'll run up and grab the other one.
We'll see if it works.
Uh like I said, I may ride my bike up if
Monkey's going to be busy tomorrow or
something or cuz I don't know what she's
got planned tomorrow or Saturday.
If it doesn't rain, it's supposed to
storm tomorrow, but uh who knows.
But either way, if it gets five likes,
I'll run back up and grab the other one
if it's still there. It should be.
I mean, for $4
I don't want to see any reason why I
shouldn't go get it. And else it works,
it works. I cannot remember the name of
it. It's not a Sony, but it is a brand
name
because I said, "Which one, Monk?" She
said, "Well, let's get this one." And I
think she got it cuz it was lighter. The
other one's very heavy. So.
All right, guys. Well,
um
that's all I got for you for right now.
Again, we'll try out the racetrack
tonight. We'll check it out. Make sure
it's all there and everything. I'm
pretty sure
you know, I keep I could get a hundred
bucks out of it. I'm pretty sure I could
get 75 to a hundred out of this player
right here.
Um you know, I I got to clean it up.
Put a little knob on there, but I think
just the way it is I could probably get
50. People buy these things. They love
them. Just like old cameras, you know, I
buy old cameras and stuff. This is
really cool. Um and I could use this in
conjunction with one of the the big old
cameras you put on your shoulder.
Um so, Shay Bear, the myth, the man, the
legend gone for now. Remember five
likes, guys, and and I'll go get the
other one. Four bucks, why not? I mean,
I'm probably finding that in the couch
in quarters. So, [laughter]
we'll see you guys in the next one. Have
a great weekend, everyone,
and stay safe. Bye-bye.
>> [music]