LabGuy's World: Extinct Ampex Video Equipment
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The Instavision home video recorder concept machine
Instavision in use.		 "Instavision": Ampex formed a working relationship with Toshiba under the name, "TOAMCO". They introduced this model at the Summer CES in Chicago around 1970. This group worked on the Instavsion until the division was closed in 1972. A production model was never produced because of the complexities and compactness required. Remember, this was before IC's and the circuits were really tight. Also, Ampex Chicago was losing favor with California Corporate and money was tight. 
New Info & Photo 02.05.18: The instavision system was compatible with EIAJ type 1 VTRs. Like the Sony AV-8400, this model came as a basic B/W system, but was upgradable to color with plug in modules. It also shares the auto threading reels used by the Sony AV-8400. The user simply dropped the reel onto the feed platter, closed the cover and pressed play. The machine did the rest. The system would have made Rube Goldburg proud! The auto threading system was the same as used in the EIAJ-2 cartridge machines with all of the same shortcomings. The most unique feature is that Instavision had stereo sound tracks! The basic unit weighed 16 lbs and could operate on either flashlight batteries or rechargeable batteries. The companion B/W camera weighed 5 lbs and had an electronics viewfinder. Photos: Matt Patoray. Info: Bill Cawlfield, of Ampex Chicago from 1965 to 1971.
VR-303: - Low cost CCTV video tape recorder. A new compact TV tape recorder designed for closed circuit systems is being marketed by Ampex at about half the cost of previously available comparable equipment. The recorder is priced just under $4000. The unit uses a single stationary video head that lays a longitudinal track along the length of the 1/4" tape which moves at 100 IPS. A 12-1/2" reel of 12,600 feet of special 1/2 mil video tape will provide a playing time of 25 minutes. The tape direction then reverses and another 25 minutes of playing time is available. A reel of tape sells for $58. The video bandwidth is 250 Hz to 1. 5 MHz. Text and photo: Electronics World Magazine, May 1965.
VR-420: - This machine was made by Toshiba-Ampex and sold under the Ampex name.  It was EIAJ 1/2 inch Type M color with *STEREO* sound!!! The stereo sound was produced by splitting the normal mono audio track of EIAJ Type M into two half tracks, much like VHS did briefly before HiFi AFM recording came along.  However, unlike VHS, EIAJ Type M's 7. 5 IPS tape speed yielded good quality stereo sound. Photo and Info: Bruce Graham. 
Ampex VR-660
Ampex VR-660B		 VR-660: - A new portable broadcast television tape recorder, said to be priced well below other such recorders of broadcast quality, has been introduced by Ampex. The unit weighs under 100 lbs. and is designed for mobile and studio use. Its price is $14,500 and is completely transistorized. The unit operates at 3.75 IPS and can record up to 5 hours of continuous program material on a single 12-1/2" reel of standard 2" wide broadcasting video tape. Text and photo #1: Electronics World Magazine - December, 1963. Photo #2 (VR-660B, circa 1966): www.eBay.com
Ampex VR-1500 Prototype? What the heck is this?: - New Info: I have been showing this image for years and declaring it is an Ampex VR-1500. It may be a prototype of the 1500 or an attempt at a lower priced consumer unit, but it looks not like the image of the VR-1500 that follows! Perhaps it is the rumored Ampex VR-600 or VR-650? Do you know? The following text was originally included with this photo:
      A new "portable" video tape recorder, introduced by Ampex, is one twentieth the size and one fourth the cost of previous recorders used by TV networks and stations. It is designed for closed-circuit use. A single head, helical scan recording technique, instead of the formerly used transverse scanning, provides for increased head and tape life. The fully transistorized recorder has a tape speed of 5 IPS and records 64 minutes of programming on a single 8" reel of 2" tape. Text & Photo: Electronics World Magazine - March, 1963.
There are a couple of problems with that description. That is obviously NOT a one head machine. The tape wraps only half way around the drum. Another issue is the tape speed. Both the VR-660 and the VR-1500 run at 3.75 IPS. Also, the the tape is coming off of the wrong side of the feed reel, opposite to that of a VR-660 or VR-1500.  ~LabGuy~
Ampex VR-1500 VR-1500: - New Info and Photo!  Notice that this VR-1500 looks exactly like the VR-660! And they are interchange compatible! For a detailed look at the pattern recorded on the tape, [CLICK HERE]. Photo: Ampex Service Manual
Ampex VR-1500 diagram of tape path around head drum VR-660 and VR-1500 Tape Paths: - New Info and Photo! A detailed diagram of the path the tape takes around the head drum of both the VR-660s and the VR-1500. Photo: Ampex Service Manual
Home Ampex Console and the girlfriend to go with it! Ampex Home VTR's: - Type A format VTR, 1 inch tape, 1 head, helical scan, with a built in 25 inch color TV! If you bought one of these, the ad implies that, a beautiful woman would instantly be your very good friend! (Heheheee!) Photo: Popular Mechanics magazine; Nov. 1965. 
Ampex Home VTR, Camera and a Blonde Babe!!! Ampex Home VTR's: - Type A format VTR, 1 inch tape, 1 head, helical scan, deck only plus a vidicon camera. Let your imagination fill in what to do with all that gear and the blonde!  Photo: Popular Mechanics magazine; Nov. 1965. 
Ampex Home VTR's were SO easy to thread, too! Ampex Home VTR's: - Type A format VTR, 1 inch tape, 1 head, helical scan VTR's were very easy to thread, too! Photo: Popular Mechanics magazine; Nov. 1965. 
Ampex VR-5000 One Inch, Type A, VTR VR-5000: - Type A format VTR, 1 inch tape, 1 head, helical scan, vintage 1965. Photo: Ebay on line auction.
VP-4900 & VR-5100: - Two new compatible video tape recorders designed specifically for use as instructional aids in education, industry, government, medicine and to other areas have been put on the market. The former is a playback unit while the latter is a playback / record unit. Both units feature 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 provides increased reliability of signal transmission from the head, according to the company. Both units feature four minute fast forward and rewind speeds. Text and photo: Electronics World Magazine - November, 1968.
XVR-5800 medical certified 1 type A VTR XVR-5800: Medical grade (that's the X in the model number) Type A format VTR, 1 inch tape, 1 head, helical scan, vintage 196?. Photo: Gregg Wieder.
XVR-5800 medical certified 1 type A VTR XVR-5800: Close up look at the Ampex label. Photo: Gregg Wieder.
XVR-5800 medical certified 1 type A VTR XVR-5800: Close up look at the connector panel. Photo: Gregg Wieder.
VR-6000:  COMING SOON!
Ampex VR-6500 VR6275: 1" Type A VTR, in a "consolette", vintage 1966 - Close up of the Ampex Label. This was Ampex's first "home" VTR. This unit sold for $1450. Photo: LabGuy. Info: Electronics World Magazine - May, 1966.
Ampex VR-6500 VR6275: A "Glamour shot" of the wood cabinet. Note the old fashioned mechanical TV tuners on the left side. Photo: LabGuy.
Ampex VR-6500 VR6275: Another view, showing more of the tape transport. Photo: LabGuy.
Ampex VR-6300 VR-6300: 1 inch tape, 1 head, helical scan, Type A format VTR, vintage 1966. A bird's eye view of the classic Ampex transport. Same as the VR6275 but without the built-in TV receiver. Photo: Tim Stoffel.
VR-7000 Typae A format VTR VR-7000: New Photos and Info!  This is a portable, transistorized VTR capable of recording and playing back B/W video signals. Two audio channels can be recorded from microphones ao any other audio source. It is intended for closed circuit applications in the medical, educational, industrial, sports and entertainment fields.  Photo and info: [Ampex Operator's Manual]. <==<<< New! 020827
VR-7000 Typae A format VTR VR-7100: New Photos and Info!  This A roll around, self contained video studio for classroom, shop or lab. Photo: [Ampex VR-7100 Operator Manual]. <==<<< New! 050226
VR-7000 Typae A format VTR VR-7300: New Photos and Info!  Ampex Type A Format. 1" tape, 1 head, alpha wrap. Manufactured by Ampex of Elk Grove Village, Illinois  in the late 1960s. High / Low band operation with color capaility in the high band mode. For color, an external  playback adapter was required. The model number of that unit is: 7017-924
Ampex VL-7404 time lapse VTR VL-7404: A time lapse type A format VTR. Records up to 38 hours on standard 9-3/4" reel with 3000' of 1" tape, including video, audio and time data. Unit records continuous audio and every 32nd field of video at .24 IPS for real time playback, or .6 IPS for compressed time playback which is 32 times faster. Unit will also still frame for up to 90 seconds without image deterioration. It has 3 MHz video bandwidth and 2.5 Khz audio bandwidth. Priced at $5,900. Model year unknown. Photo & Info: Matt Patoray.
VR-7500 Typae A format Color VTR VR-7500: New Photos and Info!  This is a portable, transistorized VTR capable of recording and playing back both B/W and color video signals. Two audio channels can be recorded from microphones ao any other audio source. It is intended for closed circuit applications in the medical, educational, industrial, sports and entertainment fields. Photo and info: Ampex Service Manual.
XVR-7500 Typae A format X-ray video VTR XVR-7500: New Photos and Info!  This is a modified version of the VR-7500 with a new operation band (X-Ray band) replacing the standard low band. This VTR operates with a 4.2 Mhz bandwidth allowing it to record 875 line 60 Hz video as produced by many X-Ray machines. The XVR-7500 was also available as a wideband 525 line 60 Hz model as a factory option. To determine which version you may have, check the model number tag on the rear of the machine. Photo and info: Ampex Service Manual.
VR-7800: Color editing type A format VTR. Spec's: 1 video head, 1" tape, 9-3/4" reels, 9.6 IPS, 60 minutes record / playback time, TBC option, digital tape timer. 140 pounds, $9,500 in 1968. Text and photo: Electronics World Magazine - October, 1968.
Ampex VPR-7900A

Ampex VPR-7900A

 VPR-7900A: Color editing type A format VTR. Spec's: 1 video head, 1" tape, 9-3/4" reels, 9.6 IPS, 60 minutes record / playback time, external TBC available, digital tape timer. Model year: 1975. Note the change to the VPR (viper) prefix. This machine is at the transition point just before the introduction of the 1" type C industry wide VTR standard. This also demonstrates the maturity of VTR's at this point in time too. In the second photo we see Don Norwood's VPR-7900A in all its glory! First photo & Info: Matt Patoray. Second photo, taken March, 2007: Don Norwood.
Ampex VPR-7900A VPR-7950A: Very similar to the previous machine, except with a boat load of accessories like: digital TBC, broadcast style up-right cabinet, overhead monitor bridge, etc. It was available in NTSC, PAL and SECAM models. Model year 1975. Info: Matt Patoray. New photo, March, 2007: Don Norwood

Prototype of the VR-8000: Here are a couple of photos of a very early Ampex helical scan prototype VTR. Photo(s): Ampex Corp.
VR-8000: The first commercially available helical scan VTR, sold in 1961. Used a one head scanner, with a full alpha wrap and two inch broadcast tape. Note how closely it resembles the Ampex quadruplex VR-1100. Photo: Don Norwood, Info: Tim Stoffel.
VR-8000: A close up look at the single head helical scanner. Photo: Don Norwood, Info: Tim Stoffel. 
VR-8000: Here is the machine that was NOT shown at the NARTB trade show in Chicago in 1958(?). Ampex shipped this guy from California in two large black crates. Ginsburg and Anderson carried the keys and took a different flight. It was only to be shown if another exhibitor had a helical VTR. No one did, so the VR-8000 traveled 6000 miles for nothing. Photo: Joseph Roizen Archive, (C)2005 Labguy's World
Ampex / Nagra VPR-5 VPR-5:  1" Type C VTR, co-manufactured by Ampex and Nagra. Not really a "small format" or "home" machine, but I've included it here, for it's beauty! Photo: Courtesy of Nagra.
2 inch viewfinder for the BBC-2 color minicam. VPR-80:  New! 02.09.22  1" Type C production VTR. More info as it becomes available! Photo: Alf Halonen.
BCC-1 Color man carried backpack color tv camera

BCC-1 Color man carried backpack color tv camera

 VR-3000:  Back pack quadruplex VTR. Introduced on March 31, 1967. Over forty years ago! Broadcast quality that could negate your medical coverage.

Model number of camera unknown. Possible prototype of the BC-300, according to Don Norwood.

First photo: Electronics World Magazine. Yep! It's backwards.

Second photo from the official press kit. This one courtesy of Don Norwood. Thanks Don!!!
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Last updated: February 26, 2005