We've been trying to Make Something Useless Useful since 2012. In order to do that we've been donating a percentage of past sales of the Useless Box to Plan Canada. In year 2013 $5,000 went to Plan Canada' Gift of Hope School Construction in Honduras.
Vintage AMPEX VR1200B 2" Quadruplex VTR ...
Solar botics
January 8, 2016
I occupy a studio space in a building that is a former movie shooting facility turned into an artist hovel. The building itself is wonderfully old but the hallways are also full of ancient audio and video equipment from the movie days. One of the things that got the attention of our RnD and tech geek was the AMPEX VR1200B Quadruplex videotape recorder from 1966. The machine stands about 5' tall, about the same in width, and weighs 'under 1000 pounds' as the spec sheet puts it. This was one of the first machines to use magnetic tape technology for recording video in the form of 2" quad tape for video, as opposed to film that was used previously.
A couple interesting points about this machine:
- 60PSI Air was needed for air bearings and a Venturi system for holding the 2" tape in alignment;
- These machines were the workhorses in TV Stations throughout the 60's and 70's. Running these machines required a full time technician!
Here's the beast in action:
A photoset of AMPEX VR1200B
An Overview of Ampex History:
MORE POSTS
New Products: All-Seeing Eye, LCDs
A while ago we showed off the prototype/demo for the All-Seeing Eye, and from the positive response it got we decided to bring it back as An Actual Thing. We even mounted it to a DragonTail, and let it go for a spin around the office. Check it out: We briefly toyed with the idea […]
Closed Mon, Sept 6th, New Stuff
HEY! YOU! WE'LL BE CLOSED FOR LABOUR DAY AND THERE AIN'T NOTHIN' YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT! BAHAHAHA! *Ahem* It's true. On the day called Labour, we will be doing anything but. Why is that? Nobody knows. But a day off is a day off, so we ain't complaining. Standard stuff applies - we'll answer […]
Mark Tilden's 600 foot workbench
Well, it's more like a workbench 600 feet in the air. In his apartment. In Hong Kong. Nice view... Dig around the large image to see what cool stuff you can pick out. Gareth @ Make Magazine (where it was first posted last week) already found a "teacup Stirling Engine" at 10 o'clock (near the […]
Solarbotics has been operating for more than 25 years, bringing electronics know-how and supplies to both the electronics professional and hobbyist. We'll be happy to help you too!
Solarbotics, Ltd. is not responsible for misprints or errors on product prices or information. For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.
Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.