Thanks to everyone for your sympathy. The tape is too old to repair, a blank used to tape films off television. And it would be cheaper to buy a new VCR than to repair our, also a few years old. I'll just have to wait it out.
Yes, I do have a birthday coming up, but I'd stand a better chance to get the Chanthology then the entire series.
I'll at least get to see the Black Camel as I have that on DVD.