To play the tapes you would require a multisystem converting VCR or alternately a multisystem VCR used with either a multisystem television or an av video standards converter.
If you want to convert them to DVD then the simplest solution is to get a multisystem converting VCR set the output to PAL & record them to DVD using one of the methods mentioned in this thread
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,72/topic,28404.0 that way it will be a PAL signal you are recording so you don't have to worry about converting it yourself or how to play NTSC DVD's.
A Multisystem Converting VCR is able to play and record in NTSC, PAL or SECAM. However, the one big advantage is that it also has the ability to convert from one standard to the other.
The Samsung SV5000W Multi-System Converting VCR is one of the most popular multisystem VCR's. Equipped with advanced digital standards conversion circuitry, the SV-5000W provides worldwide NTSC, PAL or SECAM playback on any television. This means you can playback VHS tapes recorded in almost any country and on any monitor.
A multisystem VCR is capable of playing some or all (depending on the make and model) tapes formatted in PAL, SECAM or NTSC. However, this type of machine only outputs the format of the tape that you put into it. For example, if you put in a PAL formatted tape, the VCR will output a PAL video signal. If you play an NTSC format tape, the video output will also be NTSC. A straight forward multi-system VCR does not actually convert video signals. To be able to watch an NTSC tape on a PAL television or vice versa you would also require either a Multi-system television or a video standards converter.
A multisystem Television is basically a normal television which has the ability to receive broadcasts in different formats - PAL, NTSC and SECAM. The television will also allow the playback of video tapes recorded in any of these formats using a Multi-system VCR as above.
A Video Standards Converter would take the output video signal from the Multi-system VCR and convert that signal to the format that the television is capable of receiving. For example, if the television was a standard UK model, it would only be capable of PAL reception. To be able to view an NTSC format tape played on a Multi-system VCR, an NTSC to PAL converter would be required. The multi-system VCR would output an NTSC video signal which would then pass through the video standards converter to be converted to PAL and thus giving a signal that the television could recognise.
