09-11-2023, 06:53 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-11-2023, 06:56 PM by ppppenguin.)
Pixelvision was not the only later attempt at a linear video recorder. In the 1960s the Wesgrove and Telcan were designed for the domestic market. https://www.labguysworld.com/WESGROVE_VKR-500.htm I don't know if any were actually sold to members of the public.
The 1960s and 70s also saw a profusion of incompatible helical scan formats. At least two from Philips using 1" tape, several 0.5" from Sony, Shibaden and others. I have a vague feeling that somebody, possibly Ikegami, did a 2/3" machine. And of course the Akai 0.25" previously mentioned by Mike.
The Ampex VR5000/7000 series 1" machines culminated in the VPR1 which was the immediate ancestor of the broadcast quality C-format. IVC also had some near-broadcast 1" machines. There were a couple of 2" helical scan outliers from Ampex and Cintel. The latter apparently gave superb results but was too late. C-format already ruled the broadcast world. The Bosch B-format 1" with segmented scan was a lovely design and gave good results. It lost out to C-format because it couldn't do high quality still frame and varispeed without a framestore which at that time was far too expensive. We have a B-format machine at the Broadcast Engineering Museum. I think somebody is going to try and get it going. It's in generally good condition apart from a very perished rubber pinch roller.
I should note that all of these were open reel formats. Cassettes are whole other story.
The ACR25 was a cassette based quadruplex VTR. It was made to play out commercials. I've never seen one and I doubt if any survive in the UK . http://www.digitrakcom.com/literature/ACR25.pdf
The 1960s and 70s also saw a profusion of incompatible helical scan formats. At least two from Philips using 1" tape, several 0.5" from Sony, Shibaden and others. I have a vague feeling that somebody, possibly Ikegami, did a 2/3" machine. And of course the Akai 0.25" previously mentioned by Mike.
The Ampex VR5000/7000 series 1" machines culminated in the VPR1 which was the immediate ancestor of the broadcast quality C-format. IVC also had some near-broadcast 1" machines. There were a couple of 2" helical scan outliers from Ampex and Cintel. The latter apparently gave superb results but was too late. C-format already ruled the broadcast world. The Bosch B-format 1" with segmented scan was a lovely design and gave good results. It lost out to C-format because it couldn't do high quality still frame and varispeed without a framestore which at that time was far too expensive. We have a B-format machine at the Broadcast Engineering Museum. I think somebody is going to try and get it going. It's in generally good condition apart from a very perished rubber pinch roller.
I should note that all of these were open reel formats. Cassettes are whole other story.
The ACR25 was a cassette based quadruplex VTR. It was made to play out commercials. I've never seen one and I doubt if any survive in the UK . http://www.digitrakcom.com/literature/ACR25.pdf
www.borinsky.co.uk Jeffrey Borinsky www.becg.tv
