VCR identification - need help please

[MQ74]

can someone please help me identify what type/brand VCR I have? I need to buy a remote for it and the only indicator of the VCR brand is a sticker on the back that says Montgomery Ward. I thought Montgomery Ward was just a distributor/retailer. The model number is JSS20124. I've googled with no luck. Didn't know if it was a specific type of VCR distributed by MontWard.....or if it's just a plain Montgomery Ward machine. Thanks for any help.

 

[shrtrnd]

Nope, Montgomery Ward had their own 'brand' unit; though like you, I don't remember who made it for them.
Montgomery Ward had proprietary information associated with the models they had made for them.
Somebody here might have a better idea about how to help you.
In the meantime, I'd be looking for one of those cheap 'universal remote control' units that will support your VCR model number. The remotes each come with a long list of units they will work with.
Try Googleing "Montgomery Ward VCR universal remote', or some similar use of words to try to trigger some hits.
Hopefully, somebody here will post the name of the company that made those VCR's for Wards, but you're still going to find the Wards models proprietary information only.
Good luck.

 

[MQ74]

Nope, Montgomery Ward had their own 'brand' unit; though like you, I don't remember who made it for them.
Montgomery Ward had proprietary information associated with the models they had made for them.
Somebody here might have a better idea about how to help you.
In the meantime, I'd be looking for one of those cheap 'universal remote control' units that will support your VCR model number. The remotes each come with a long list of units they will work with.
Try Googleing "Montgomery Ward VCR universal remote', or some similar use of words to try to trigger some hits.
Hopefully, somebody here will post the name of the company that made those VCR's for Wards, but you're still going to find the Wards models proprietary information only.
Good luck.

Ok, thank you. I appreciate your reply. At one time years ago, I had the VCR programmed through my TV remote and I recall having to input a code, but I thought the code was per the brand type and not the model number. But if I can get a universal to program via the model number, then the brand type is irrelevant I reckon. Thanks again

 

[MQ74]

my other issue is that not all universal remotes have the tracking buttons on them.
My VCR does not have tracking adjustment buttons, only the remote had them.

 

[shrtrnd]

I sympathize, congratulations on keeping your VCR running as long as you have.
The way I've seen those universal remote sheets written, they list the manufacturer in the header, and then all the models underneath that manufacturer. You are correct that not all remotes work on all of the same manufacturer's models. You need the model number.
The other idea I've seen here that people suggest for someone in your situation, is to check places like eBay to see if someone is selling the exact remote you need, or claims to have a universal that will work on your model.
I can't tell you how many times I've checked flea markets and found somebody with a couple of hundred remotes in a pile. SOMEBODY has what you want, you just need to find somebody who has what you need.
For us here, if one of us wants to look for possibilities, is that 'JSS20124' number you listed the model number on the VCR itself, or on the remote itself? Somebody might know a source if we know the model # on the remote.
I know this is aggravating. If anybody has any ideas to help, they'll jump in here.

 

[MQ74]

I sympathize, congratulations on keeping your VCR running as long as you have.
The way I've seen those universal remote sheets written, they list the manufacturer in the header, and then all the models underneath that manufacturer. You are correct that not all remotes work on all of the same manufacturer's models. You need the model number.
The other idea I've seen here that people suggest for someone in your situation, is to check places like eBay to see if someone is selling the exact remote you need, or claims to have a universal that will work on your model.
I can't tell you how many times I've checked flea markets and found somebody with a couple of hundred remotes in a pile. SOMEBODY has what you want, you just need to find somebody who has what you need.
For us here, if one of us wants to look for possibilities, is that 'JSS20124' number you listed the model number on the VCR itself, or on the remote itself? Somebody might know a source if we know the model # on the remote.
I know this is aggravating. If anybody has any ideas to help, they'll jump in here.

ok thank you. Yeah that was the model number on the VCR. The remote is long gone. In my google search, I only came up with one listing of that model number and it was a years old ebay listing....so no luck. I've been told by a couple people that the 'channel up and channel down' buttons on the VCR itself serve as tracking buttons when the tape is in play. I've messed with them, but can't tell if they're doing anything or not. The tracking line issue I'm having is only at the bottom of the screen - intermittently. Since it's not constant, I'm not sure if I'm affecting it or not with those buttons. Those lines may just come with the territory. Looking at just cropping them digitally after conversion. Thank you for your time though. Much appreciated

 

[shrtrnd]

My experience with the issue you describe, if the tracking adjustment isn't working, is that the tape itself may be the problem, or the tape path within the VCR player is off-center, with one of the tape edges being pressed against the side of one of the roller-stop edges inside the VCR. If you haven't already, try a different tape. If you feel able, open the VCR and inspect the tape travel path as the VCR is playing, and see if the edge of the tape is dragging, being flexed, along the travel path. Something guiding the tape through the machine may be folding the edge of your tape so that the head doesn't read the information on one side of the tape.
I don't know what words to use (in a Google search), but looking for an original remote, there must be some people on-line with big stashes of remotes who might offer to check to see if they have the one you're looking for if you can figure-out how to word your search in a way to find them.
Good luck with this.
I'll mention, I just bought four brand new Sanyo VCRs from WalMart for $25 each, as everybody is getting out of the VCR business for BluRays. Converting your old VCR tapes into DVD's or Digital, you might check into seeing if a cheap new VCR might help you out instead of trying to deal with your Wards model (which would be difficult to find replacement parts to repair).