If you read my recent blog post, you’ll know I recently found a 1″ Type C VTR—specifically, a Sony BHV-2000. After receiving it, I knew I needed more test media, and after finding a cheap eBay listing that I thought was probably a Type C recording, I hit purchase, not really knowing what I would get. It could be type A, B, or the very common type C. The tape was listed as coming from a defunct radio station in Illinois, but beyond that, I didn’t know its origins. It was recorded sometime in 1980 but, according to the tape, was transferred to 1″ in 1989.
Well, after receiving the tape and threading it onto my 1″, I was able to get timecode and color bars. What I found was footage from Bloomington and Normal, Illinois. I have no idea who shot it—there’s speculation in the YouTube comments that it was filmed by a student at ISU, which makes sense. But that’s just as mentioned speculation. The reel consists of handheld B-roll with shots of ISU, streets, storefronts, a mall and various parts of town, often a bit unsteady as I think whoever shot this was still learning. Why this was later transferred to 1″ I’m not sure?
Below is that video upscaled to HD with a Teranex.
