Best VHS cleaning machines? Where to find?
 

After a long time playing around with an old Sony VCR trying to clean a few tapes I have come to the conclusion that I would like to source one of the tape cleaner / Rewinder machines, the trouble is finding them.

I have found the names of a few models, any others known would be useful to look into.

Kinyo UV230c, Kinyo TV-55, Kinyo UV230c, Cassette Rewinder, Mustang 2-Way Video Tape Rewinder, Geneva PF-740 and the Cleanermate.

I've read reviews on most of those machines where possible and found at least one is a dry clean machine, however I would happily try any of them if I could find one for sale.

Would anyone here have a good idea of where to look outside of eBay?

I'm willing to import a device if necessary to the UK.

Why clean the tapes?

There are times where tapes are one-and-done. A single playback pass initiates oxide shedding, and the 2nd attempt to capture is degraded by noise (dropouts, loss of data/oxide).

RTI Tapechek is really one of the only good machines, and it must be used sparingly with care.

Unless the tape was merged in a bath of honey you wouldn't need a VHS cleaning machine, For moldy tapes just use a spare cheap VCR, take the top cover off, Wrap a first aid gauze around a pencil with some alcohol and gently push against an open area of the tape and do one or two fast passes on both sides of the tape until the mold is gone, For specific dirty spots on a tape use manual cleaning for that specific area by pulling the tape off the shell and clean on a soft dust free surface.
In most cases cleaning a tape will degrade the signal than improving it.