The 1960s
VERA was only two when the 1960s began, BBC TV was 405 line black and white, videotape recorders were valve driven and editing was by razor blade. At the end of the decade there was BBC2, both BBC1 & 2 were in colour, transistors, dropout compensators, electronic editing and slow motion had all arrived. A decade of great change. The pictures below capture some of the machines of the 60s.
As usual click on the picture for an enlargement and more information, click on the enlargement to return.
VR1000C
VT6, an Ampex VR10000C, ready for an edit session in 1966
VR2000
VT2, An Ampex VR2000, in early 1966
VR2000
A later VR2000 with Editec and the monitor, possibly VT1
VT16 an RCA TR22 in 1965
VT12 1960
There was only one VR1002, which was installed in VT12 until 1966. The cubicle was then converted into a sound area for the World Cup. This kit of parts was photographed by Bob Wilson, but there is enough remaining to bring back quite a few memories!
VT12 was the first machine I 'served on' after joing VT (CB recollects). Dave May was my minder and we were recording Cy Grant's calypso for "Tonight". One 'feature' of VT12 was its relatively low equipment bay, not shown here, and, as a result, the 'tweaker' attached to the machine on a chain often dropped into the cooling fan with dire noises! Others of a certain age will also remember "exit Ron Sangster pursued by 90 minute tape" after he had forgotten to tighten the retaining locks!!
Bulk Eraser
Another one from Bob's collection of parts! This is one of the original bulk erasers as used for quad tape. They were incapable of erasing C format (1" tapes) - indeed, if you were brave, you could put a 1" transmission tape in the beast, press the button and still have the recording untouched! It was affectionately known as the "fishfryer", for obvious reasons. The tape went in the drawer at the top and the lid was closed to prevent you getting your tie (yes, we wore those in the 1960s!) caught in the works!
In the days when wristwatches contained cogs and springs, it was common practice for those who valued their timepieces to remove them when using the bulk eraser to avoid damage from the significant stray magnetic field. Although it has to be said, on more than one occasion a watch performing erratically was put into the eraser in the vain hope that a good shaking might restore it to normality.
(Enlargement facility not available for this picture)