LabGuy'sWorld:TheTimeLineofExtinctVideoTapeRecorders

ThefollowingtimelinetriestocovereveryVIDEORECORDERORPLAYERthatwasdevelopedregardless
ofwhetheritwassuccessfulornot.Thematerialisgatheredfrommanysources,mostofthemontheinternet.The
vastmajorityofthispageistheworkofDavidFisher,webmasterofTerramedia,anexcellentresourceforthe
historianofaudio/visualcommunicationssciences.BeabsolutelycertaintovisitMr.fisher'sexcellentsite.Thispage
isacompilationofotherpeople'swork.Pleasevisitthelinkswhentheyareshown.
I'msurethatthereareerrors,omissionsandoutrightlies.Thereisalsosomeblurringofthetimelinebecause
ofperiodswheredifferentsystemsoverlappedeachother.I'vegatheredthisdatafrommanysourcesandsometimes
theydon'tnecessarilyagreewitheachother!Idomybesttosortitallout,butfeelfreetodonateinformationandor
correctionstothisproject.Iwantthispagetobethedefinitivelastwordonthissubjectofvideorecordinghistory.
~LabGuy~
.
1927:
JohnLogieBairdCreatesthefirstvideodiscsystemfiftyyearsbeforeitscommercialinception.Thediscs,basedon
existingphonographtechnology,rotateat78rpmandhavetheabilitytocaptureandreproducehazyimageswhen
playedonagramophoneandconnectedtoaBairdreceiver.Thebandwidthis5khzandtheimages,thoughbarely
recognizable,arereproducedat12.5fpsataresolutionof15pointsperhorizontalline,30linesaltogether.During
thethirties,severalcopieswillbesoldbySelfidge'sdepartmentstoreinLondon.However,themechanicalTV
systemgoesintoobscuritywhentheBBCdecidestodiscontinuetheproductin1936.
.
1948:
JohnMullindemonstratesamodifiedMagnetophonetaperecordertoBingCrosbyEnterprises.AlexanderM
Poniatoff,headoftheUSfirmAmpex,witnessesthedemonstrationAmpexisgivenanordertoproduce20self
designedrecordersforBingCrosbyEnterprises.
.
1948:
April:Surprisepublicexhibitionofa15minutenewsreelusingintermediatefilmlargescreentelevisionatthe
ParamountTheatre,NewYork.Televisionpicturesrephotographedon35mmfilmfroma10inchcathoderay
tubeandfedthroughamachinewhichdevelops,fixes,washesanddriesitbeforeenteringaconventionalprojector
reachthe18ftx24ftscreenin66seconds.Thescreenusedislargerthantheaveragecinemascreenatthistime.
.
April:BingCrosbyEnterprisesteam,ledbyJohnMullin,beginsworkonbroadcastvideotaperecording.
.
AEGofGermanyconvertsa35mmMechaucontinuousmotionprojectortoacameraforcontinuousrecordingof
televisionpictures.Systemusesarotatingmirrordrumsynchronisedwiththefilmsothatthereflectedimagesofthe
televisionpicturefollowthefilmdown.Intheorythisdoesawaywithneedtohaveexceptionallyhighrateofpull
downinthecameraandmeansthatnolinesarelostintherecordingprocess.
.
1949:
August:FirstfilmedrecordingofCBScolourtelevisionmadeinWashingtonDCusingUSNavydesignedcamera.
.
ImageOrthicontelevisioncameraisintroduced.
.
1950:
"JackMullin,thenBingCrosby'srecordistandchiefengineer,beganworkingatthenewlyestablishedelectronics
divisionofCrosbyEnterprisestodevelopamagneticTVrecorder"fromTapeRecorderHistorybyJerry
Whitaker.
.
March:FirstfilmedrecordingofRCAcolourtelevision.
.

AugustSonydevelopsandmarketsfirstJapaneseaudiotapeandrecorder.
.
1951:
ArmourResearchIntheUS,demonstratesacrudeVTRVideoTapeRecordertoAlexanderPoniatovand
Ampexexecutives.AmpeximmediatelybeginsworkononeofitsowninRedwoodCity,California.Aparalleleffort
todeveloptherequiredtapegoesonat3MCorporation.3M'sfirstScotch179reelis2in.wide,nearly800mlong,
andweighs10kg.
.
November:BingCrosbyEnterprisesmountsthefirstsuccessfuldemonstrationofblackandwhitemagneticvideo
recording,anexperimental12headVTRrunningat100ips.AconventionalAmpexaudiorecorderisusedata
greatlyenhancedspeed.AccordingtochiefengineerMullin,theresultingqualityisnegligible.
.
SeptemberStartofhotkineeraofUStelevisionrecording.Transcontinentalmicrowavetelevisiontransmission
systemiscompletedandallthreenetworks,desiringtomaintainauniformprogrammescheduleinthefaceofthree
hourEastWesttimedifference,developafastsystemofrecordingtelevisionusingfilm.Recordingsaremadeon
35mmfilmwhichisquicklydeveloped,washedanddriedandprojectedasanegative.
.
December:AlexanderPoniatoff,headofAmpex,authorisesprojectwithbudgetof$14,500,ledbyCharles
Ginsburg,toinvestigatevideotaperecording.Asaprojectishasrelativelylowpriorityandissuspendedfromtime
totime.
.
1952:
BBC'sVERAWhichstoodfor:VisionElectronicRecordingAperatus.DevelopedbyDr.PeterAxon.VERAran
halfinchtapepastfixedferriteheads,whichhad0.5micronpermalloygaps,at192IPS.21inchdiameterreelsgave
aplayingtimeof15minutes.Aftermanyyearsofdevelopment,VERAwasused,ontheairforashortwhile,in
1958.
.
AugustRayDolby(1933)joinstheAmpexvideorecordingproject.
.
SeptemberPierreToulonfilesUSpatentforphotographicdiscreproductionoftelevisionsignals(grantedAugust
1965).
.
October:MullinCrosbyachievesthefirsthighresolutionrecordedmovingpicturesthroughmeansotherthan
photography,withanimprovedmultitrackvideotaperecorder.FinancedbyBingCrosbyEnterprisesand
developedbymagneticrecordingguruJohnMullinalongwithWayneJohnson,wasahalfinch,fixedhead,
longitudinalvideotaperecorderusingtentracksforpictures,onetrackforsyncandoneheadforaudioandwas
threetimescheaperthananycomparableprocess.Tapespeedwasawhopping100IPS(13.6MPH!)andhasa
recordingtimeof16minutesononereeloftape.Acolorversionwasdemonstratedin1955beforethewholething
wasmadeobsoletebytheAmpexQuadmachine.
.
October:Ampexachievesanalmostrecognisablepicturewithitsvideotapeexperimentsusinganarcuatesystem
withthreeheadsonspinningdrumandtwoinchtaperunningat30ips.Thisissoonsupersededbytransverse
scanningsystemwithtracksrunningwidthwaysacrosstapeandfourrotatingheads.
.
1953:
DecemberVladimirK.ZworykinandRCALabsdemonstratedDec.1alongitudinalvideotaperecorderin
monochromeandcolourrunningveryfastat360ipsover3headswithAMsoundanda7,000ftreelofhalfinch
tapegivesonlyfourminutesrecordingtime.
.
TeamatToshibainJapanledbyNSawazakibeginsworkonhelicalscanvideotaperecording.
.
JVCbeginsresearchintovideorecording.
.
1954:
SeptemberAmpexvideoprojectisfullyreactivatedafteraperiodof13monthswhenengineerswereswitchedto

othertasks.
.
OctoberNHKmakesitsfirstpracticaluseofkinescoperecordingforatelevisionproductionofaKabukidrama.
.
NovemberAlexMaxeyofAmpexproposesnewvideorecorderdesignwithsinglerotatingheadandfourinchtape
passingtheheadinatubularpattern.Proposalmeetswithlittleenthusiasmasalleffortsareconcentratedon
perfectionofquadruplexdesign.
.
NBCdevelopingcolourkinesystemusingthreeseparatetubesorkinescopesopticallycombinedandrecordedon
35mmnegativefilm.
.
Peakofprevideotapeera:CBSproduces70hoursofliveprogrammingaweek,allkinerecordedonalmost1mfeet
offilmstock.
.
1955:
RCAtestsitsfixedheadvideotaperecorderatNBC.Tapespeedisreducedfrom360ipsto240ipstogivealonger
recordingtime.
.
BingCrosbyEnterprisesfixedheadvideotaperecordersystemisnowanalogue,runningat360ipsandthen240ips
withfivetracksonhalfinchtape:red,green,blue,syncandFMsound.
.
ResearchintovideotaperecordingstartsatVictorCompanyofJapan(JVC)byteamunderKenjiroTakayanagi.
.
1956:
RCAdevelopsaprototypehomevideotaperecorderwithtwofixedheadsandquarterinchtapecapableof15
minutesofrecording.Calledthe"SeeHearHomeVideoSystem".AnnouncedbyRCAbutwasneverseenorheard
ofagain.
.
March14Ampexdemonstratesworkingrotaryheadquadruplex(fourhead)videotaperecorderto200CBSTV
affiliatesattheNationalAssociationofRadioandTelevisionBroadcastersconventioninChicago.Eventcausesa
tremendousstirthroughouttheentirebroadcastingworldandwithinfourdaysthesmallCaliforniacompanyhas
ordersfor$4mworthofthefirstVRX1000machineslaterrenamedMarkIVat$50,000each.Usedtwoinch
tapeandafourheadtransversescannerspinningat14,400RPM.Thisfirstpracticalvideotaperecorderdeveloped
byCharlesGinsburg,RayDolby.
.
Bytheendof1956,13quadruplexvideotaperecordershavebeeninstalledat(US)TVstations.
.
3Msellsitsfirstcommercialreelofvideotape(ScotchBrand179)toCBS.
.
HelicalscandesignforvideotaperecordingisproposedbyAlexMaxeyofAmpex.
.
November30CBSbroadcastthefirstnetworktelevisionshowwithvideotapeNov.30,DouglasEdwardsandthe
News,recordedinNewYorkforWestCoastdelayedbroadcast.ItisrecordedontheAmpexmachineandplayed
backwiththreehourstimedifferenceontheWestCoast.Twosimultaneousvideorecordingsarebackedupby
35mmand16mmfilmrecordingsallplayedbacktogethertoinsureagainstdisaster.
.
SeptemberNBCbeginsuseoflenticularcolourkineprocessfortimezonedelayrecordings.Speciallenticularfilm
wasdevelopedbyKodakforthepurpose.
.
BellTelephoneCompanyinUSdevelopingvideotelephone.
.
1957:
ThefirstVTRequippedremotetrucksappear.
.
TapeisinterchangedfromoneVTRtoanotherforthefirsttime.
.

ThefirstquadruplexcolorVTRisdemonstratedbyAmpex,andcalledtheVR1000B.In1963atransistorversion
willbemarketedunderthenameVR1100.
.
AmpexandRCApooledpatentstodevelopcompatiblecolorandB&WVTR.
.
January21Firstmajoruseofvideotaperecording,forthesecondinaugurationofPresidentDwightDEisenhower.
AmpexVTRmachinesbecomeavailable,costingaround$45,000.
.
NBCusesvideotapeforfirsttimeinbroadcasts.Tobeginwith,videorecordingscanonlybeplayedbackwiththe
samemagneticrecordingheadsthattheyarerecordedby.Videoheadsarethusstoredwiththerecordingsreadyfor
playback.Allearlyrecordingsarebackedupbyfilmrecordings.
.
OctoberRCAandAmpexdemonstratesprototypecolourquadruplexvideotaperecordersafterannouncementof
jointpatentexchangecoveringvideorecordinginmonochromeandcolour.
.
FirstTVcommercialonvideotapeisrecorded.
.
MechanicalVideoTapeeditingbegins.Theprocessinvolvespouringmagneticallysensitivesaltsontheserviceside
ofthetape.Thentheeditorlooksatthetapethroughamicroscope.Oncethesignalcharacteristicshavebeen
gleanedandtheeditpointdetermined,atransversesliceismadewithademagnetizedrazor.
.
1958:
DecemberSonydevelopsthefirstJapanesetransistorisedvideotaperecorder.
.
Ampexdevelopsavideotapesplicingblockandeachnetworkworksoutitsownsystemsformechanicalsplicingand
editingofvideorecordings.
.
Fernsehdevelopsitsownversionofquadruplexvideotaperecorder.
.
JVCinitiatesVTRdevelopmentprogramme.
.
Philipsdisplaysarotatingmagneticwheelstoragedeviceforstilltelevisionpictures.Wheelturnsat3,000rpmand
thepictureisrecordedandplayedbackfromasinglevideohead.
.
SMPTEformstheVideotapeRecordingCommitteetoestablishstandards.
.
April14BBCdemonstratespubliclyandthenforalimitedperiodusesitsownVERA(VisionElectronicRecording
Apparatus),usingthreetrackheadsandtapeat200ips.
.
JulyMatsushita,workingwithJapanesebroadcastingorganisationNHK,developsaprototypebroadcastvideotape
recorderwitheightrotatingheadsandtwoinchtape.
.
FebruaryNBCnetworkannouncesthatallrecordingsforUStimezonedelaywillbedonewithvideotape.
.
CBSbroadcasts'TheRedMill',thefirstfulllengthprogrameditedonvideotape.
.
'TheBettyFreezorShow'isthefirstTVprogramtobetapedincolor.ItisbroadcastbyWBTVofCharlotte,North
Carolinaonlytwohoursafteritisrecordedon1/2in.(1.25cm)videotape,withonlyaslightdeteriorationofthe
picture.
.
1959:
ToshibainSeptemberdemonstratedprototypehelicalscanmodelVTR1,with2inchtaperunningat15ipsover
justonehead.Afterthedemonstration,SonybegantodevelopthehelicalscanVTR.
.
AugustGrundigshowsasimplemonochromevideocameraattheBerlinRadioShow(Funkausstellung).Itcosts
190andisaimedattheamateurmarket.Itplugsintothetelevisionreceiveraerialsocket.
.

October9JVCappliesforapatentonatwoheadhelicalscanvideotaperecorder.
.
DecemberGeneralElectricCompanyofAmericaannouncesanewsystemofvideorecordingcalledthermoplastic
recording.Theprocessusesahighmeltingpointfilmbasecoatedwithatransparentconductinglayerandathin
layeroflowmeltingpointthermoplastic.Videoinformationislaiddownbyanelectronbeamandthefilmisthen
heatedtodeformthesurfaceinaccordancewiththeinformation.Playbackisbymeansofdiffractionoptics.
.
DecemberJVCcompletesKV1,itsfirstproductionVTRandthefirsttwoheadhelicalscanrecorder.
.
ProfessorOkamuraofTokyoUniversityofElectroCommunicationspatentstheslantazimuthmethodofvideo
recordinglaterusedextensivelyinalldomesticvideomachines.
.
1960:
AmpexsharedVTRpatentswithSonyandSonysharedtransistorizedcircuitrywithAmpex.
.
AprilAmpexintroducestheIntersyncaccessorywhichmakesitpossibletocuttoorfromvideotapewithoutrollsor
discontinuityandtododissolvesandsomespecialeffects.
.
AprilAmpexdemonstratesfirstautomatictimebaseerrorcompensator,Amtec.
.
Ampextakesahelicalscanvideotape(VR8000?)machinetoNABconventionbutdoesnotdisplayitasthereareno
competingmachinestoforceitsentryintothemarket.
.
January9JVCsKV1helicalscanVTRisshownpublicly.
.
ColourversionofJVCshelicalscanVTR,KV2,completedbyautumn.
.
1961:
AmpexVR8000Theveryfirstcommerciallyavailablehelicalscanvideotaperecorder.Usedaoneheadscanner,
withafullalphawrapandtwoinchbroadcasttape.
.
MayAmpexdemonstratesitsColorteccolourrecoverysystemforcompensatingtimingerrorsinthecomposite
coloursignal.
.
RCAintroducescompactstandalonetransistorisedvideotaperecorderTR22.
.
JanuarySonyintroducestheworldsfirsttransistorisedvideotaperecorder,SV201.
.
JanuaryJVC(foundedastheAmericanownedVictorCo.ofJapanin1946,butownedbyMatsushitasince1953)
announcestwoheadhelicalscancolourvideotaperecorder,model770.Tapespeedof15inchespersecondgives
recordingtimeof90minutes.
.
MarchStanfordResearchInstitute(SRI)atMenloPark,California,beginsresearchintoaphotographictelevision
recordingdiscinconjunctionwith3M.Theaimistoproduceaninexpensivehomevideosystem.
.
SonySponsorsanddemonstratestheworld'ssmallestandlightestvideotaperecorder(modelPV100),designedfor
thetechnological,industrial,educational,medical,sportsandartsmarkets.Usiedtwoinchopenreeltapeina2
headhelicalscansystem.ThePV100wasadoptedbyAmericanAirlinesin1964forinflightmovies.
.
SeptemberKodakannouncesanewmethodfordirectelectronbeamrecordingonsilverhalidefilm.Anticipates
recordingtechniquesusedforCBSsEVRsystem.
.
SiemensandHalkeofMunichdevelopamagneticvideodiscforrecordingsingleframes.
.
AdvertelofCanadadesignsworldsfirstelectronicvideotapeeditingmachine.
.

1962:
Thereare951VTRsinuseworldwide.
.
JuneMachtronicsofCaliforniaintroduceshighstandardportablehelicalscanvideotaperecorderMVR10using
oneinchtaperunningat7.5inchespersecond(ips).Machinecontainsamonitorandrecordsforupto90mins.
FollowedbyMVR11,withoutmonitor,weighing65lb.
.
ToshibademonstratesahelicalVTR.
.
OctoberFirstimagesrecordedandplayedbackfrom3M/SRIopticalvideodisc.
.
November3MfilespatentforElectronBeamRecordingsystemusinglasertechnology.
.
JVCofJapansellsthefirsthelicalVTR.
.
ThefirstsolidstateVTRscomefromRCAandSony.
.
Ampexdemonstrateselectronicvideotapeediting.
.
AmpexmarketsVR1100solidstatemonochromevideotaperecorder,pricedatunder$50,000.
.
1963:
AmpexSignatureVTheveryfirsthomevideotaperecorderappearedintheNiemanMarcusChristmascatalog.
Eightinchreelsoftwoinchwidetape,usingaoneheadhelicalscansystem,recorded64minutesat5IPS.The
SignatureVsystemsoldfor30,000dollarsandweighed100pounds![Model#VR1500]
.
SonymarketedfirsthomeVTRfor$995,openreel1/2inchhelicalscandeck.
.
MarchSonyintroducesinU.K.theworldsfirstfullytransistorisedportablevideotaperecorder,PV100,for
industrialuse.
.
AprilPrecisionInstrumentofCaliforniaintroducesaportabletwoheadhelicalscanvideotaperecorder,modelPI
3V,weighing68lbandusingoneinchtape.
.
June24Telcanfixedheadlongitudinalvideotaperecorderintendedforhometapingoftelevisionprogrammesis
demonstratedonBBCtelevisionnews.DevelopedbyNormanRutherfordandMichaelTurnerofNottingham
ElectronicValveCompany(NEVC),themachineusesquarterinchtaperunningat120ipspastfixedheads,
carryingtwo15minutetracks.Theintendedpriceis6119s(61.90).BothTelcanandNEVCcollapsed.
.
BBCintroducesanelectroniclinestorestandardsconverter.
.
3MintroducesnewimprovedvideotapeScotchBrand379.
.
USfirmMachtronicsintroduceshelicalscanvideotaperecorder.
.
EditecelectronicvideoeditingisintroducedbyAmpex.Itallowsframebyframerecordingcontrolandtapeediting
andmakessimpleanimationeffectspossible.
.
DesignconsultantColinMasonofWolverhampton,Englandannouncesthathehasdevelopedavideorecordplayer
aftersevenyears'researchsupportedbyaWolverhamptoncompany.Thevideoplayerissimilarinsizetoa
conventionalaudiodiscplayer,plugsintoaconventionaltelevisionsetandwillcostabout35.Therecordswillbe
called'videograms'.
.
1964:
PhilipsEL3400Theirfirstvideotaperecorder,introducedin1964.Designedforindustrial/educationalmarkets.
Pricedwithinreachofafewhighendconsumers(earlyvideophiles)atnearly$4000(US).Itwasaonehead,helical
scan,oneinchmachinethatcontained21vacuumtubesandconsumed355wattsofpower.


AmpexjoinedwithToshibatomarketU.S.designedVTRsinJapan.
.
AprilAmpexannouncesahighbandcolourvideotaperecorderVR2000developedprimarilytosatisfythe
requirementsoftheBBCsnew625linesystem.Itisnowpossibletomakeuptofourgenerationsofdubswith
minimallossofquality.
.
AprilWinstonResearchCorporation,divisionofFairchildCameraandInstrumentCorporation,introducesalow
costfixedheadvideotaperecorderusingquarterinchtaperunningat120ips.
.
MayRCAannouncesaprototypeelectronbeamrecorderwithbetterresolutionthanconventionalkinerecording
(recordingoftelevisionpicturesbyphotographingfromatelevisiontubeontofilm).
.
June24PicturephonevideotelephonesystemdemonstratedinUS.
.
JuneSonyPV120ALvideosystemisinstalledbyAmericanAirlinesforpassengerentertainment.
.
RCAintroducesthreesolidstatecompactquadruplexvideotaperecorders,TR3,TR4andTR5,whichincorporate
electronicediting,dropoutcompensationandautomaticcolourtimebasecorrection.Thecostisapproximatelyhalf
thatofpreviousbroadcastmachines.
.
RankCinteldevelopstheUKsonlysuccessfulquadruplexvideotaperecorderbutitisabandonedduetopossible
patentdifficulties.
.
Philipsintroducesaoneheadhelicalscanindustrialvideotaperecorder.
.
RCAbeginsresearchanddevelopmentonvideodiscsystems.
.
.

1965:
March:AmpexSignatureVIFeaturedlongitudinalrecordingtorecord25(50?)minutesofvideoonareeloftape.
The1/4"tapemovedatawhopping100inchespersecond.[Model#VR303]
.
August:SonyConsumerVideoSystemSeveninchreelsofhalfinchtapestoredablackandwhitepictureand
monosound.Thissystemuseda"skipfield"recordingsystem,everyothervideofieldwasskipped.[Model#CV
2000]
.
SonyintroducesthefirstmonochromehalfinchtapeVideoRoverportapakusedalmostimmediatelybyNewYork
videoartistNamJunePaik.
.
MatsushitaintroducesacompacthalfinchindustrialvideotaperecordertomatchtheSonyCVseries.
.
WesgrovehomevideorecorderisdevelopedintheUK.Itemploysinchtaperunningat150ipsandgiving30
minutes'recording
timeon11inchreels.Adoityourselfkitgoesonsalefor9710s(97.50).
.
WestinghousedevelopsthePhonovidprocessinanattempttoproduceacommercialvideodisc.Whilethis
microgroovediscprovidesagoodqualitypictureitcanonlystore200fixedimagesoneachdisc.
.
AugustMVRvideodiscmachineVDR210CFbuilttoCBSspecificationsisusedforinstantreplaysonCBS
coverageofanAmericanfootballgame.TheMVRvideodiscrecorderisdemonstratedinCalifornia.600framesof
actionlasting20secondscanberecordedonthemagneticdiscandreplayedimmediately.Singleframescanalsobe
replayedorerased.[JusttakeapeakinLabGuy'sWeirdVideoEquipmentpage...]
.
April:ElectronovisionmakesHarlow,thefirstelectronicmotionpicturefortheatricalrelease,inEngland.
.
1966:
VR660:Aportablebroadcasttelevisiontaperecorderpricedat$14,500.Theunitweighedunder100lbs.andwas

designedformobileandstudiouse.Itswascompletelytransistorizedandoperatedat3.75IPSandcouldrecordup
to5hoursofcontinuousprogrammaterialonasingle121/2"reelofstandard2"widebroadcastingvideotape.
.
MarchAmpexannouncesanautomaticvelocitycompensatorforeliminatingcolourerrorsduetovideotapespeed
variations.
.
AprilAmpexannouncesVR6000fixedheadhomevideorecorderusingoneinchtapeandhavingbuiltintuner
forrecordingoneprogrammewhilewatchinganother,andoptionalcamera.
.
AprilWestelfirmofCaliforniaannouncesaportabletelevisioncameraandbackpackrecorder,WRC150,
weighing7lband23lbrespectively.Recorderholds30minutessupplyofoneinchtape.
.
SonyDemonstratestheworld'sfirstcolorhomevideotaperecorder.
.
MarchSonyannouncesVideomatandVideoColorDemonstratormachinesusingplasticdiscsforrecordingand
playbackofmonochromemovingpicturesandcolourstillpicturesrespectively.Thesedevelopmentsareforerunners
oftheMavicaelectronicstillscamerasystem.
.
1967:
SonyDV2400:Theworld'sfirstportapackVTR.Halfinchtapeinhelicalsystemusingtheskipfieldrecording
method.CompatiblewithallmembersoftheCV2000familyofproducts.Theportapakisalmostaseasytooperate
asanaudiotaperecorderandleadstoanexplosionin'doityourself'television,revolutionizingthemedium.
.
CBSpioneershomevideowiththeEVR(electronicvideorecorder).Avideocartridgesystemthatplayedback
imagesonaTVsetfromfilm.Usingtwintrack8.75mmfilmontowhichsignalsaretransferredbyelectronbeam
recording,onetrackforluminance,theotherforeitherchrominance(toproducecolourimages)orluminance(to
produceasecondmonochrometrack).The750ftfilmisonaseveninchdiameterspoolinaplasticcartridge.Itis
thusbarelyelectronic,notreallyvideoandcertainlynotintendedforhomerecording.Itwasplayonlywithrewind,
fastforwardandfreezeframecapabilities.Thepicturequalityiscomparabletothatof35mmfilmsshownonTV.
FamedlongplayingmicrogrooverecordinventorPeterGoldmarkofCBSlabscameupwiththeideasbehindEVR.
Dr.Goldmarkhadalotofexperiencewiththemoreprimativemechanicaltelevisionsystemsandthisshowinthe
overalldesignoftheplayers.20thCenturyFoxagreedtosellmoviesinEVRbuttheformatfacedgrowing
competitionby1972fromvideocassetteformatsintroducedbyRCA,Sony,AmpexandAvco(Cartrivision),all
seekingtodevelopanewconsumermarketforhomeVCRs.
.
InMarch,theAmpexHS100colorvideomagneticdiscrecorderisusedforrapidplaybackinnormal,slow,orstop
action,atthe"World
SeriesofSkiing"inVail,Colorado,markingthebeginningof"instantreplay"oncommercialtelevision.
.
AprilAmpexintroducesthefirstbatterypoweredportablequadruplexhighbandcolourtaperecorder,VR3000.
Weighing35lb,itcanrecordfor20minuteswithaneightinchreeloftwoinchtape.Theaccompanyingcamera
weighs13lb.
.
VidtronicsdivisionofAmericanTechnicolorcompanyannouncescolourvideotapetofilmtransferprocess.
.
Ampexsellsits1,000thhighbandcolourvideotaperecorder.
.
October:AllAmericanEngineeringdemonstratesaprototypefixedheadvideotaperecorderusingquarterinch
taperunningat60ips.
.
Matsushitaannouncesmagneticsheetconcentricvideorecorder,VSR.
.
1968:
PhilipsEL3402Aportablehighqualitysolidstate,colorcapable,1"VTR.Usedasingleheadscannerwitha360
degreefullalphawrap.Consumed100Watts,weighed22Kilograms/48Lbs.
.
October12:BBCfieldstorestandardsconverterisusedtorelayOlympicGamestelevisiontransmissionsfrom

MexicotoEurope.
.
Matsushitamarketsthefirstvideotaperecordingusingtheslantazimuthsystem.
.
AmpexHS100videodiscrecorderwithslowmotionandstopactionfacilitiesisusedforfirsttimebyABCduring
OlympicGames.
.
CBSdemonstratesitsEVRsystemofvideoplaybacktotheUSpress.
.
1969:
ThemajorVTRcompaniesofJapanrecentlyagreedonastandardtapeformat.CalledEIAJ,whichstandsfor:
ElectronicsIndustriesAssociationofJapan,thisformatused1/2"taperunningat71/2IPS,ahalfhelicalrecording
angleof3degrees11minutes,a1mmsoundtrack,0.8mmcontroltrackandhavingaresolutionbetterthan240
lines.(ElectronicsWorldmagazineDec,1969)
.
ElectronicIndustriesAssociationofJapansetsCP504unifiedstandardsfornonbroadcastopenreelvideotape
recorders.
.
EIAJType1videocartridgespecificationsareagreedandannounced.
.
RCAHolotapeAnexperimentalsystemthatembossed3Dimagesontomylarfilmusingahighpowerlaser.The
tapewasthenplayedbackusingasecondlowerpoweredlaser.Thissystemneverwentintoproduction.(Electronics
WorldmagazineDec,1969)
.
AkaiTwosystemsusing1/4"tapeonopenreels.Onemadeblackandwhite,theothercolorrecordings.
.
PhilipsLDL1200Analltransistor,1inchtape,355degreesomegawrap,bandwidth>4.0Mhz,weight:55Kilos/
121pounds.Themechanicalpartwasmoreorlessthesameasthe1964modelEL3400.
.
Sonyintroducedfirstvideocassette,the3/4inchUMaticonehourtape,availableinU.S.by1971.Forthefirsttime,
Sonyallowedother
manufacturerstosellmachinesthatcouldplaythecassette,andthussucceededinestablishingaworldstandardfor
the3/4inchvideocassette.
.
(?)Sonyannouncesitsfirstcolourvideocassetterecorder.KnownastheMagazineVideocorder,itusesoneinchtape
runningat3.25ipsgiving60minutesrecordingtime.
.
SonysoneinchvideotaperecordermodelEV310,costing1,200,isintroducedthisyear.
.
InApril,IBMannouncesmethodofcontactprintingvideotapeathighspeeds.AlsoMatsushitaannouncesbifilar
highspeedcontactvideotapeprinter.
.
(?)InJune,JVCannouncesplanstomarketcartridgevideorecorderusinghalfinchtaperunningat7.5ipsfora
maximumplayingtimeof30mins.Audiotobeondualstereotracks.JVC,MatsushitaandSonydiscuss
standardisationofcolourformatunderauspicesofElectronicIndustriesAssociationofJapan(EIAJ).
.
InJuly,firstpublicdemonstrationofEVRhomevideosystemattheInternationalAudioVisualExhibition
(Internavex)atOlympiainLondon.
.
VidicordteleplayerisdemonstratedinLondon.UsingSuper8cinefilm,storedinacassette,itplaysbackin
monochromeviatheaerialsocketofaconventionaltelevisionreceiver.Theplayercosts370
.
InNovemberMatsushitaintroducesamagazinevideorecorderwithaudiotypecassettescontainingtworeelsof
EIAJstandardreelsofvideotape.
.
InNovemberSonyannouncesanewhomevideocassettemachinecalledColorVideoplayer,usingthreequarterinch
taperunningat3.15ips,giving90minutes'playbackwithtwoaudiotracks.Arevampedversionofthismachineis
reintroducedin1972astheUmaticsystem.


InNovemberTechnicolorCorporationofAmericaannouncesplansfornewmethodofusingvideotapewith2,000
scanlinesforfeaturefilmproduction.
.
.

1970:
ToamcoInstavisionAhalfinchreeltoreelsystem,producedunderaworkingrelationshipbetweenAmpexand
Toshiba.UsinghalfinchtapecompatiblewithEIAJstandardsdesignedinmodularformsothatthebasic
monochromerecordercouldbeportablewithanoptionalcamera.Italsohadstereoaudiotracksinthesameplace
thatEIAJplacedthemonoaudiotrack.Thissystemnevercametomarket,butwasshownattheSummerCESin
Chicago.Thepatnershipwasdisolvedby1972.
.
NorelcoLDL1000ThisVTRwasspecificallydesignedtouse1/2"chromiumdioxidetapegivingoptimumpicture
qualityatthetapesavingspeedof7.9IPS.TheLDL1000weighed26Lbs.
.
TheexcellentqualityoftheAEGTelefunkenDeccaTeledecisdemonstratedinW.Berlin.Thisvideodiscismadeof
asheetofPVC0.04in.(1mm)thick.A9in.(22.5cm)discplaysforfiveminutes,a12in.(30cm)runsfor12
minutes.
.
N.V.Philipsintroduceditsownvideocassetterecorder(VCR)formatinEurope
.
July:AVCOintroducedasolidstatecompact(?)CartrivisionVCR.
.
InFebruaryJVClaunchesitsfirstportablevideotaperecorder,modelPKV830.
.
March:FirstdemonstrationbyCBSofcolourEVR(inU.K.?).
.
March:Sonyintroducesanewversionofitscolourvideoplayerandmassprintingsystem.
.
InAprilAmpexannouncesthirdgenerationvideotaperecorder,AVR1,withtimebasecorrectionsystemand
designedtobeinterfacedwithcomputersforuseinautomatedprogramming.AlsoAmpexdisplaysitsADR150
highspeedcontactvideotapeprinter.
.
May:MemorexofCaliforniaannouncesathermalcontactmethodforduplicatingvideotapes.
.
June24:Teldectelevisiondisc(laterknownasTeD)isdemonstratedinBerlintheresultofajointventurebetween
AEGTelefunkenandTeldec(thelatterajointventureofAEGTelefunkenandBritain'sDeccaRecordCompany).
.
June:PhilipsannouncesandgivesthefirstpublicdemonstrationofitsVideoCassetteRecorder(VCR)systemusing
halfinchtapecoaxiallymountedinacassetteandrunningat5.6ips.
.
October:DuPontdescribesathermoremanentprocessforhighspeedduplicationofchromiumdioxidevideotapes.
.
Ampex'sACR25cartridgebasedvideorecordingsystemallowsautomatedrecordingandplaybackoftelevision
commercials.
.
IVCintroduces4101timebasecorrectortostabilisetelevisionsignals.
.
Sonyannouncesaportablehalfinchopenreelcolourvideotaperecorder.
.
1971:
April1923FirstInternationalCartridgeTV,VideocassetteandVideodiscConference(VIDCA)organisedby
AmericanBillboardpublicationsandattendedbyover600commercialrepresentativesisheldatCannes,France.
.
October:Sony,MatsushitaandJVCannounce3/4inchtapeinsideaUmaticformatcassette,thesizeofaboxof
candy,forcolourvideorecording.Note:Thisistheonly"old"formatthatisstillinuse,althoughsupersededbyU
MaticSP(SuperiorPerformance).
.

RCAMagTapeUsedthreequarterinchtapeandfeaturedanincartridgescanningschemethatactuallyshoved
thevideoheaddrumpartiallyintothecassette.The"Selectavision"tradenamelatercroppedupinthecompany's
VHStapeandCEDvideodiscplayerlines.Thissystemalsoneverwentintoproduction.
.
PhilipsoftheNetherlandsdevelopsalaserdisc,itsVideoLP(VLP).Itcomesintwosizes:onecanrecordanhourof
TVoneitherside,theotherrecordsonly30minutesoneachsidebuthasfreezeframecapability.Thesurfaceofthe
discissmoothandreflectivealasertakestheplaceofthephonographneedle.Philipsintendsfortheproductto
competewiththevideocassettebutdoesnotmarketitforseveralyears.
.
December23:CBSannouncesitswithdrawalfromtheEVRPartnership.
.
JVCmarketstheUformatvideosystembasedonSonysthreequarterinchstandard.
.
CommitteeofrepresentativesfromAmpex,EECO,AdvertelandCentralDynamicsmeetandagreetoadopta
standardelectronicedgenumberingsystemforcomputerisedvideoediting(implementedApril1975).
.
1972:
CartrivisionTworeelsof1/2"tapewerestackedoneontopoftheotherinaclunkycassetteroughlythesizeofa
hardcoverbook.Thissystemalsoused"skipfield"recording,butatleastitwasincolor.Thesystemmadeitto
Sears,andsomestoresevenrentedspecialcassettesthatcouldbewatchedonlyoncebecausetheyweredesignednot
torewindinhomemachines.Theformatfailedalmostassoonasitappeared,owingtoalackofsoftware,
mechanicalunreliabilityandmassiveconsumerindifference.Thefinaldeathblowcamewhenawarehousefullof
prerecordedtapeswerediscoveredtohaverotted.
.
1973:
Cartrivisionfails.Avcogoesoutofbusiness.ThousandsofCartrivisionsdecksdumpedonthesurplusmarketfor
decadesafterwards!
.
May:JVCunveilsaUformatvideocassetterecorderwithintegraltunerforoffairreception.
.
August:KodakannouncesVP1videoplayerforshowingSuper8filmontelevisionreceivers.
.
1974:
January8:JVCannouncesitsCR4400Uformatportablevideocassetterecorder.
.
September23PhilipsandMCAagreeonamergeroftheirrespectivevideodiscsystems,Philipstoproduceandsell
VLPhardware,MCAtodevelopandmarketDiscoVisionsoftware.Formallyratifiedbythecompaniesboardsof
directorsonOctober7.
.
1975:
Panasonic'sOmnivisionIHousedasinglereeloftapeinacartridgeandwoundthetapeontoatakeupreelinside
thetransport.Thismeantthatyoucouldneverremoveacassetteinthemiddleofaprogram.Thesystemwas
standardizedandcalledEIAJ2.Thetapeswereonlyavailableina30minutelength.No30minuteformathasever
succeeded.
.
BetamaxFirstpopularhomeVCR.SonyintroducedinNovemberintheU.S.theBetamaxconsumerVCR(console
only)for$2295withonehour1/2inchtapecassettesfor$15.95.Sonysoughttocreatedastandardizedformat,asit
haddonewiththeUmaticin1969,bygetting7othercompaniestoagreetoproducemachinesthatwouldplaythe
Betacassettes.
.
March17:TeDvideodiscsystemislaunchedcommerciallyinWestGermany.
.
1976:
TheGreatTimeMachineUsingtheVXformatinventedbyMatshusita,recorded2hourson1/2"tapeinacassette

thatwasamechanicalnightmare.FayeDunawayusedaGreatTimeMachineinthe1978movieTheEyesofLaura
Mars.
.
September9:JVCunveilsitsVHS(VideoHomeSystem)halfinchvideocassetterecorderformatatHotelOkura,
Tokyo.
.
October:JVCintroduced,tothemarketplace,theVHSformatVCRfor$885.
.
SonyintroducedaBetamaxVCRdeckfor$1300andbeganaggressiveadvertisingclaimingthatit"canactually
videotapesomethingoff
onechannelwhileyou'rewatchinganotherchannel"and"buildalibraryofyourfavoriteshows."MCA/Universal
andDisneyfiledlawsuit
finallywonbySonyin1984.
.
September:SonydevelopslaserreaddigitalaudiodiscsystembasedonLaservisionvideodiscformatgiving30
minsplayingtimepersideat1,800rpm.
.
1977:
SanyoVCordIThissystemstored20minutesofblackandwhitevideoonhalfinchtapeinaverycompact
cassette.
.
SanyoVCordIIThissystemaddedcolorandintroducedaslowerspeedtoextendrecordingtimeandwasoneof
thefirstformatstoofferareallygoodfreezeframeandslowmotion.
.
VHSIntroducedbyJVCandMatshusita,puttwohoursonatape.Throughout1977,tapespeedwarssawBetaII
counterwithathreehourtape,VHSfollowedwithafourhourlength,BetaIIIthenofferedfivehours,andVHS
moppedupthecompetitionwithasixhourrecordingtime.Today,VHScanrecordupto8hoursusingtheT160
sizetapes.
.
RCAannouncedinMarchitwouldsellVHSwith4hourtapes.
.
1978:
Philips"VCR"FormatPhilipsinventedthenameVCRbutcouldonlyregisterthetrademarkinEurope.The
namecaughtonmuchbetterthanthemachineswhichstackedonereeloftapeabovetheother.
.
PhilipsVideo2000Using1/2"videotape,thisPhilipsandGrundigmachineplayed1/4"ofthetapeinonedirection.
Youwouldthenflipthetapeoverandplaytheotherhalfintheotherdirection.Tapeslookedjustlikethesuccessful
Philipsaudiocompactcassette,onlybigger.
.
PioneerdevelopedtheLaserDiscthatwasfirstusedbyGeneralMotorstotrainCadillacsalesmen.Pioneerbegan
sellinghomeLaserDisc
playersin1980.
.
1979:
SonyintroducedBetascaninAprilthatallowedvisiblepicturewhilefastforwarding.
.
1980:
8mmProfferredbySonyand127otherleadingconsumerelectronicsmanufacturers.Introducedhighdensity
recordingonaudiocassettesized8mmtape.
.
Sonyintroducedfirstconsumervideocamcorder.
.
1982:
TechnicolorCompactVideoCassette(CVC)Japan'sFunaijoinedforceswithTechnicolortocreatetheVideo

Showcasesystem.Thelightestandmostportablerecordingsystemofitstimeusing1/4"cassettesthatcouldrecord
30minutes.Anotherdoomed30minuteformat....
.
1983:
SonyintroducedtheBetaHiFiVCRwithhighqualityFMsound.
.
1985:
Sonyintroducedthe8mmformatinApril(?).
.
TheVHSgroup,ledbyJVC,broughtoutacompactversionofVHS,knownasVHSC,butitonlyrecordedfor20
minutes.
.
1988:
SuperVHSvideoformatequalled8mminpicturequalitybutnotinsoundquality.
.
1989:
SonyintroducedtheHi8videoformatandtheSonyCCDV99camcorder.
.

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