{"id":6919,"title":"Ampex Products Chronology","kind":"biblio","url":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/ampex-products-chronology","version":"6544741212e5835027b39f3a611f07e922cc39c26ca82d32581b955e38dd7cf6","modified":"2026-09-13T21:51:46.8312094+00:00","credits":[],"authorKeys":[],"subjects":["Tools"],"metadata":[{"label":"Tool","value":"Ampex recorders","url":null}],"citations":{"page":"\u0022Ampex Products Chronology.\u0022 Video History Project, Experimental Television Center, 2026. https://www.videohistoryproject.org/ampex-products-chronology.","publication":"Ampex Products Chronology. .","risUrl":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/citation/6919.ris"},"links":[{"label":"Ampex 7500","url":"#Ampex","relationship":"record body link","contentType":null},{"label":"Ampex 4900","url":"#Ampex VP","relationship":"record body link","contentType":null},{"label":"Ampex VR-660","url":"#Ampex VR-660 videotape","relationship":"record body link","contentType":null},{"label":"Chronology","url":"#Chronology of Ampex Professional","relationship":"record body link","contentType":null}],"sections":[{"name":"body","source":"VHP record body","generated":false,"characters":20264},{"name":"summary","source":"existing VHP generated summary","generated":true,"characters":719}],"content":{"section":"body","source":"VHP record body","generated":false,"text":"Ampex 7500 Ampex 4900 Ampex VR-660 Recollections of Jim Wheeler Chronology by Howard Sanner Ampex VP 4900 Ampex VPR 5800 Ampex 7500 This deck is capable of recording and playing both low and high band, and is capable of a full 4.2 MHz video bandwidth. This is the first color-capable type A VTR, but it required specially modified monitors that could accept an external subcarrier reference. It was described as a portable, transistorized VTR capable of recording and playing back both B/W and color video signals. Two audio channels could be recorded from microphones or other audio sources. It was used in closed circuit applications in the medical, educational, industrial, sports and entertainment fields. Ampex VP 4900 This machine was designed specifically for education, industry, government, and medicine, with a video response of 3 Mhz and a horizontal resolution of 300 lines. The video signal to noise ratio is 42 dB. A rotary transformer in the drum assembly provided increased reliability of signal transmission from the head, according to the company. Fast forward and rewind speed were each four minutes. Ampex VR-660 videotape recorder Subject: Re: [AMIA-L] In-Flight Video Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 21:25:23 EDT From: Jim Wheeler \u003CJimwheeler@AOL.COM\u003E Reply-To: Association of Moving Image Archivists \u003CAMIA-L@LSV.UKY.EDU\u003E To: AMIA-L@LSV.UKY.EDU Jeff In 1964, TWA had a corner on In-Flight movies. The CEO of Continental called the Ampex VP of Engineering and asked if we could develop a videotape system for showing movies. The VP set down with me and we had a plan roughed out within an hour of the phone call from Continental. The VP wanted a single large monitor in each cabin--just like the TWA system. I argued for individual monitors. We ended up with a compromise--which is what is common today. I built a small box that converted the 28 volts DC aircraft power to 110 volts AC. This was the power source for the VR-660 helical videotape recorder. Ampex bought several hundred small TV monitors that would be mounted every other seat and on both the left and the right walls of the airplane. The wiring and monitors were installed by a company that did a poor job. There was crosstalk and RFI problems. Before this happened, I was transferred to another Division of Ampex in another town and never did hear how the crosstalk was handled. I suspect that fiber-optic cables are used in today\u0027s In-Flight video Systems so crosstalk is not an issue. Another version of \u0022In-Flight\u0022 video was developed by the U.S. military. The U.S. Air Force installed a VR-660 in the tail area of every B-52 used in the Vietnam war. It was connected to a video camera that was pointed down. When a B-52 left Guam for a bombing run, the record button was activated. The VR-660 would record for six hours. Most of the recording was over water but it also showed what was actually bombed. This is a good example of where archiving the entire 6 hour tape is not desired. 5 hours of ocean is very boring to watch. Jim Chronology of Ampex Professional Products (Draft: 29 Oct 95; Rev. 4 Nov 99) Compiled by Howard Sanner Introduction The source for this chronology of Ampex professional audio and video products is principally the Ampex Fact Book prepared by Ampex in 1970 to celebrate the company\u0027s 25th anniversary. All dates not in square brackets are from this document, as are all quotations unless otherwise noted. Any dates given in square brackets are from another source, often the date on a manual in my collection. Additional sources I have found helpful are a chronology prepared by David Dintenfass, anecdotes about the Ampex 200A by Larry Racies, and comments on the MR-70 by Bill Vermillion. My thanks also to Russ Bleakley and, indirectly, John G. McKnight, for sending me the Fact Book. I have also included other significant events in the company\u0027s history. I drew the line at instrumentation recorders, computer equipment, consumer audio gear, and the like. An overall chronology is first, followed by a discussion, in chronological order, of some models of audio recorders. Chronology 1944 Nov. 1: Company founded as Ampex Electric and Manufacturing Company. The name Ampex is derived from the initials of the company\u0027s founder, Alexander M. Poniatoff, plus \u0022ex\u0022 for excellence. [This is the party line. An insider once told me that the \u0022ex\u0022 actually stood for \u0022experimental.\u0022] 1946 May 2: Incorporated in California as Ampex Electric Corporation. 1947 Oct. 1: Model 200A audio recorder demonstrated at Radio Center, Hollywood, Calif. 1948 Apr. 24: First production model 200A recorders delivered to ABC and placed in service Apr. 25 across the country. First regular professional use of magnetic recording. [The Germans don\u0027t count, I guess.--hcs] 1949 May: Model 300 audio recorder. It \u0022provided improvements in head design, drive system and tape path.\u0022 [Cf. date in Lindsay article, cited below.] July: Model 300 production begins (Harold Lindsay, \u0022Magnetic Recording, Part II,\u0022 db, Jan. 1978: 41). [Cf. date in Fact Book, cited above.] Lindsay, op. cit., 42, says the 400 was first manufactured \u0022late in 1949.\u0022 1950 Fall: Model 400 audio recorder. This was \u0022lower priced,\u0022 \u0022of professional quality,\u0022 and \u0022developed specifically for independent broadcast stations.\u0022 1953 Apr.: Model 350 audio recorder replaced the model 400. \u0022The model 350\u0027s simplicity, improved tape drive system, durability and performance established a new standard of excellence for the broadcast industry.\u0022 May 1 [per p. 1] or July 2 [per p. 43]: Name Ampex Corporation adopted. September: Entered motion picture field with sound equipment for Cinemascope. 1954 May: Model 600 portable recorder for field use. It \u0022retained full master quality in a highly compact form.\u0022 [No date given]: Models 3200-3300 high-speed duplicators. 1956 Apr.: Demonstrated model VR-1000, the first video tape recorder at NAB convention in Chicago. Nov. 30: First coast-to-coast network TV broadcast using an Ampex video recorder was \u0022Doug Edwards and the News\u0022 on CBS. 1956 Mar.: Ampex wins Emmy for VR-1000. 1958 Model 351 audio recorder. [A flyer in my collection copyrighted 1962 refers to the 351\u0027s \u0022four-year history of dependable operation by more than 9,000 units.\u0022--hcs] Apr.: Color video tape recorder. [No model no. given in Fact Book.] First demonstration of video tape editing. 1959 Jan. 19: Ampex stock listed on N.Y. and Pacific Stock Exchanges. June: United Stereo Tapes formed to record, make, and distribute stereo music tapes for home use. October: Orr Industries, Opelika, Ala., merged into Ampex Corp. and became the Ampex Magnetic Tape Division. 1960 [specific date not known]: MX-35 four channel stereo mixer. [My copy of the manual is dated Sept. 1960.--hcs] Jan.: Model 970, a self- contained portable stereo recorder. It had a built-in stereo amplifier and speaker system for monitoring purposes. Apr.: Model 354 audio recorder, \u0022designed specifically for recording and reproducing stereophonic sound.\u0022 Apr.: VR-1001A video tape recorder, an upright model, introduced. 1961 Jan.: VR-8000, a closed-circuit video tape recorder for education and training applications. Apr.: Awarded Oscar for \u0022development of an advanced multipurpose theater sound system.\u0022 Dec.: 40 acres purchased in Redwood City, Calif., for a new corporate headquarters and research complex. Dec.: Experimental video tape recorder weighing 35 lbs. and occupying one cubic foot of space developed to record one half hour of satellite television pictures. Delivered to NASA. 1962 July 26: Ground breaking for Redwood City facility. Mar.: Ampex Electronic Editor, which allowed editing video tapes without cutting and splicing. Dec.: VR-1500 portable video tape recorder. Dec.: VR- 660, a 130-lb. model priced at one-fourth the cost of previous video tape recorders. 1963 Aug. 12: Moved in to Redwood City facility. 1964 Apr.: VR-2000 high-band color and B\u0026W video tape recorder. Apr.: MR-70 mastering audio recorder. July: United Stereo Tapes changed name to Ampex Stereo Tapes. 1965 Feb.: VR-303 closed-circuit video tape recorder. (Dropped the same year; replaced by the VR-7000.) May: AG-350, the first all- transistorized audio recorder. July: VR-660B, advanced version of VR- 660; replaces VR-660/1500. Nov.: VR-7000 compact portable closed circuit video tape recorder. 1966 Jan.: AG-300 solid-state audio tape recorder. Mar.: VR-1200 high-band broadcast color and B\u0026W video tape recorder. Mar: VR-1100E, modification of the VR-1100 for mobile use. May: VR-6000 low-cost, compact close-circuit video tape recorder. Nov. VR-6175 closed-circuit video tape recorder/TV receiver. 1967 Jan.: AG-440 series audio recorder. \u0022It is a new generation of the 350 and 351 Series recorders, most widely used professional audio recorder/reproducers ever built.\u0022 AG-445 is a playback only machine. Feb.: AG-500 series, solid state compact portable audio recorder. \u0022An advanced generation of widely used PR-10 recorder/reproducers.\u0022 Feb.: VR-7003, first closed-circuit video recorder that can record \u0026 play back at both 525-line and 625-line standards. Mar.: HS-100, high band color recording system that can do slow motion and stop action instant replays. Mar.: VR-3000, battery powered portable video tape recorder and camera combination, less than 50 lbs. Apr.: VR-7500C, first compact color video tape recorder to cost less than $50,000. Apr.: Ampex Stereo Tapes announces it will start making cassettes. May: AL- 500, long play professional logging recorder, will record more than 34 hours on a seven-inch reel. June: Second Emmy, for high band color video tape recording. Oct.: AG-440-8, eight-channel version of AG-440. Oct.: AG-1000-24 \u0026 AG-1000-16, two new solid-state multi-channel audio recorders. [I think these were the same model later called MM1000, but cannot prove it.--hcs] Oct.: ADM-500A Duplicator Master and AD-150 Duplicator Slaves for high-speed cassette duplication. Could make ten copies of an hour long tape in two minutes. Oct.: AG-600 series, a solid-state version of the 600 series audio recorders. Oct.: AA-620, solid-state, portable 20W amp/speaker system. Oct.: AM-10, portable six-position 2 channel mixer. Nov.: VR-2000B \u0026 VR-1200B, high band color video tape recorders. Nov.: VR-5000 and VR-7800 portable video tape recorders. 1968 Apr.: VR-3000 introduced; first deliveries in May. Apr.: HS-200, color disc recording \u0026 editing system for producing commercials. Apr.: MM- 1100 multi-channel audio recorders for mastering, TV, and motion pictures. June: VR-5003, international version of VR-5000. Aug.: VR- 4900 and VR-5100 closed-circuit video tape recorders. Nov.: VR-7400, time lapse closed-circuit video tape recorder that can record 76 hours on a single reel. 1969 Jan.: AG-440B, an update of the AG-440. June: VP-4900C, closed circuit video tape player, priced at $1950. July: VR-7500X, closed circuit video tape recorder with higher resolution than previously available. Sept.: MM-1005, a playback-only version of the MM-1000. [This must be what was referred to as the AG-1000 above in the entry for 1967.] Nov.: VR-1500E, lowest priced video tape recorder that allows B\u0026W assemble editing. [late 1973?]: MM-1100 (date from Alastair Heaslett). [late 1974 or early 1975?]: MM-1200 (date from Alastair Heaslett). [mid-1970s?] AG-440C. [Spring 1976]: ATR-100 introduced at AES in Los Angeles. (Date from Alastair Heaslett, who certainly ought to know.) [ca. 1978] ATR-700 audio tape recorder. [My copy of the ATR-700 brochure is dated 1978.--hcs] [ca. 1983] ATR-800 audio tape recorder. [My copy of the ATR-800 brochure is dated 1983.--hcs] Discussion of Specific Audio Recorder Models Note that more than one version of electronics was used by many of the tube machines. 200A: The Ur-Ampex. Earliest ones ran at 30 ips only; some later ones ran at 15 and 30 ips. Ampex made 112 of these (Harold Lindsay, \u0022Magnetic Recording, Part II,\u0022 db, Jan. 1978: 40). The 200A used oxide-out wind, like the Magnetophons. 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