First VCR was the size of a Piano...

[Robin]

I was reading a "Snapple" cap, which said, "The first VCR was made in 1956 and was the size of a paino." I discovered that it was actually called a Video Tape Recorder (VTR) by the inventor, Charles P. Ginsburg:

http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynam.../hall_of_fame/1_1_6_detail.asp?vInventorID=66

The first Video Cassette Recorders (VCR's) were sold by Sony in 1971.

Any comments? Do any of you read "Snapple" caps? What do you think?

 

[kach22i]

I ignore the inside of caps unless I'm really bored.

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=first+ampex&btnG=Search

http://history.acusd.edu/gen/recording/notes.html

1950 - "Jack Mullin, then Bing Crosby's recordist and chief engineer, began working at the newly established electronics division of Crosby Enterprises to develop a magnetic TV recorder" - from Tape Recorder History by Jerry Whitaker.

1951 - Ampex team led by Charles Ginsburg began work on a video tape recorder (VTR) in October; Bing Crosby Enterprises demonstrated an experimental 12-head VTR at 100 ips.

1953 - Vladimir K. Zworykin and RCA Labs demonstrated Dec. 1 a longitudinal VTR running very fast at 360 ips over 3 heads with AM sound.

1956 - Ampex demonstrated first practical quadraplex VTR at Chicago NAB show April 14, using 2-inch wide 3M tape at 15 ips over rotating head assembly recording at a slant on tape surface with AM sound; over next 4 years sold 600 units at $75,000 each, mostly to big network stations.

 

[Robin]

Fasinating information...

kach22i,

Yeah, I read them when I'm bored too.

Your information was much better than mine... Thanks for sharing.

 

[SugarMedia]

120 years of electronic music

...another post to read when you're bored.

http://www.obsolete.com/120_years/

 

[kach22i]

...another post to read when you're bored.

http://www.obsolete.com/120_years/

Great site, just wish they had more pictures, and better ones.................and while I'm dreaming downloadable sound bites/samples of live concerts.

 

[Reverb2009]

Looking at those two photos, I guess form follows function. They looking like the computers NASA had back in the 60’s.

 

[Robin]

VDR's...

Looking at those two photos, I guess form follows function. They looking like the computers NASA had back in the 60’s.

Joe,

I guess if it wasn't for those science pocket protector, sliderule guys we wouldn't be where we are today. Thank God for guys like Charles Ginsburg...

 

[Yang1815]

the first computer filled a whole room >_<

It's quite amazing how small things are nowadays... Damn Asians!