The First VTR
I had a little time to kill before my flight to LA today, so I was finally able to stroll through the early audio exhibit in the United concourse at SFO (on the way to gates 76-90). Lots of interesting historic items including this first videotape recorder. When Apmex showed this to television executives in 1956 they gave it a standing ovation.
The exhibit is Dolby heavy - practically everything is on loan from Dolby Labs, including the Ampex. Ray Dolby was on the team that invented it - but well worth the 20 minute stroll.
Comments
Actually, to my surprise, my current station still maintains 2 working 3/4" Umatic machines for dubbing of old archived news footage onto either DVC-Pro or into the Avid Unity.
-A
The old AMPEX sign is still on the west side of 101 in Redwood City. It's a terrific company that is still producing recorders and selling them around the world. We are now marketing solid state recorders to aviation companies. We are a lot smaller now than we were in the 50's and 60's. Stop by for a tour if you are in town and have an hour. I am always on the look out for you, Kevin Rose and the rest of the old Call for Help TV/ celebs.
Thanks for mentioning us.
Don Culver
Senior Test Engineer
John Herbert Orr was a local resident in my community. He has a short bio on the following.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Herbert_Orr
http://www.eastalabama.org/orr_collection.htm