It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 11:17




 Page 1 of 1 [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Odd PAL disc
PostPosted: 12 Jul 2017, 15:35 
Advanced fan
Advanced fan
User avatar

Joined: 05 Jul 2011, 15:10
Posts: 898
Location: Norway
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 5 times
Hi!

Got this oddity from a gentleman over at the Laserdisc Forever facebook group. Seems to be a French PAL prototype movie. I attempted to load the disc, but it was so badly scratched that I didn't take the chance to actually play it. What the contents are, if any, will remain a mystery. Either way it is still a cool cover. No reference number can be found anywhere.

As you can probably see in the pictures, the cover does have a sticker that says "sample - do not use in a machine". Kind of makes me wonder if the scratches are deliberate, or just some random damaged disc used as filler inside the jacket. The disc it self has no labels.

This one isn't in the database. Not sure if I should submit it since it appears to be some test production thing, not an actual release.

Image
Image
Image
Image
_________________
Player: Pioneer HLD-X9 and CLD-2950
My LD collection
Recently started collecting some anime on LD
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Odd PAL disc
PostPosted: 12 Jul 2017, 16:02 
Jedi Master
Jedi Master
User avatar

Joined: 03 May 2004, 19:05
Posts: 8093
Location: Dullaware
Has thanked: 1218 times
Been thanked: 841 times
Hate to say this but the sleeve says VHD and VHD discs come in caddies like CED, they will not play in regular LD players.
They have micro groves like a record.
I honestly didn't know they made VHD for the PAL market, its pretty cool to see and I guess that's why its a sample or prototype.
Could be a different disc inside the caddy to begin with.
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Odd PAL disc
PostPosted: 12 Jul 2017, 18:03 
Advanced fan
Advanced fan
User avatar

Joined: 05 Jul 2011, 15:10
Posts: 898
Location: Norway
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 5 times
I am fully aware what a VHD is. I loaded it up in my own VHD player with the lid off in order to inspect the disc. Since it were badly scratched up, I didn't attempt to play it.

I've seen picture of a UK prototype before. I think someone posted it on this forum somewhere. It was the movie Convoy.

Did some reading a while ago, and the VHD system had a planned UK release. This one seems to be evidence that it was planned a wider European release as well. The system supposedly is PAL/NTSC compatible, and will switch depending on the type of disc inserted. Wanted to test if that actually were the case, but don't want to risk ruining the stylus. A bit disappointing, but better safe than sorry.
_________________
Player: Pioneer HLD-X9 and CLD-2950
My LD collection
Recently started collecting some anime on LD
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Odd PAL disc
PostPosted: 12 Jul 2017, 18:11 
Jedi Master
Jedi Master
User avatar

Joined: 03 May 2004, 19:05
Posts: 8093
Location: Dullaware
Has thanked: 1218 times
Been thanked: 841 times
Ah OK, sorry, I thought you thought it was an LD. My mistake.

Yeah, I wouldn't risk the stylus with a scratchy disc.
Very cool and should be updated or added as it is in existence.

Now I wonder if its just the sleeve that is prototype as the disc could be a generic disc like some toy prototypes would be when on display
at toy fairs.
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Odd PAL disc
PostPosted: 12 Jul 2017, 18:46 
Advanced fan
Advanced fan
User avatar

Joined: 05 Jul 2011, 15:10
Posts: 898
Location: Norway
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 5 times
No worries. :)

Yes, I suspect too that the disc it self is just some random placeholder. Sounds plausible it were used as a pure display piece during the promotion campaign. Perhaps some other movies got produced that were used as demos.
_________________
Player: Pioneer HLD-X9 and CLD-2950
My LD collection
Recently started collecting some anime on LD
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Odd PAL disc
PostPosted: 12 Jul 2017, 21:40 
Hardcore fan
Hardcore fan
User avatar

Joined: 13 Sep 2012, 23:14
Posts: 1199
Location: United Kingdom
Has thanked: 265 times
Been thanked: 259 times
Thanks for posting the details & pictures.

I think you have a rather cool item there.

Thanks again :thumbup: .

.
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Odd PAL disc
PostPosted: 25 Jul 2018, 20:43 
Advanced fan
Advanced fan
User avatar

Joined: 21 Dec 2002, 18:44
Posts: 959
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 122 times
samaron wrote:
I am fully aware what a VHD is. I loaded it up in my own VHD player with the lid off in order to inspect the disc. Since it were badly scratched up, I didn't attempt to play it.

I've seen picture of a UK prototype before. I think someone posted it on this forum somewhere. It was the movie Convoy.

Did some reading a while ago, and the VHD system had a planned UK release. This one seems to be evidence that it was planned a wider European release as well. The system supposedly is PAL/NTSC compatible, and will switch depending on the type of disc inserted. Wanted to test if that actually were the case, but don't want to risk ruining the stylus. A bit disappointing, but better safe than sorry.


From what I've read, part of the standard was to auto-adjust for NTSC and PAL. However, it isn't doing a conversion. You'd still have to hook up the player to a monitor that is compatible. Thorn EMI had plans to issue titles in the UK, and this may indeed be a test disc, however with CED and LD already competing in the UK (just like in the US), adding a third disc format made no sense. VHD did get used in industrial applications however because it offered the ability to read multiple tracks at the same time (which is how 3D worked - parallel tracks).
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Odd PAL disc
PostPosted: 14 Jul 2021, 05:40 
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 23:37
Posts: 4540
Location: Tokyo
Has thanked: 292 times
Been thanked: 1136 times
Just added after confirmation: a French PAL VHD

Châteaux de la Loire (1985) [900247]

Cover to be added soon.

Julien
_________________
HARDWARE DATABASE
HLD-X0/9 LD-S9 OPPO 105/205 SL-1200G
LDD-1 MSC-4000 R2144 PONTUS II C45 MC257
Offline
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
 Page 1 of 1 [ 8 posts ] 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: