Quad Tape Transfer

03/25/2024

https://youtu.be/4AxzLmkOM9E?si=r00K2tksqtG2SxO-

03/19/2024

Freeing "The Beast" today to do a special transfer.

03/16/2024

Removing an Ampex AVR-1 Vacuum Capstan Roller.
For Charlina Johnson.

For Charlina Johnson

02/11/2024

Quadshop Sunday

02/01/2024

RCA TR-70B: Reassembling the head casting mount, FM preamp, guide servo mechanism and installing a video head.

01/21/2024

New video in the works this month about some of the magnetic materials used in video head tip fabrication.

01/08/2024

Ampex AVR-1 ACR-25 Mark XX Head Drum Removal.

01/02/2024

Today's quad digitizing project: Canadian steel guitar player Terry Sutton's low band tape from 1961 using vtr #7, a 1200B Ampex using a homemade rebuilt video head with my own tips. These jobs are what I live for!

12/14/2023

https://youtu.be/mmxVvNc6L8A?si=XfRX883d-0bkttVI

Part 3 interview on the 10th anniversary of head rebuilding work here at the shop.

12/13/2023

https://youtu.be/xWRD4jM7mzA?si=M-iK_5k3L7yxcGsU

Part 2 interview on the 10th anniversary of head rebuilding work here at the shop.

12/12/2023

https://youtu.be/bMjSUJaoU28?si=0l164x_HbkqDWzgf

Part 1 interview on the 10th anniversary of head rebuilding work here at the shop.

12/05/2023

This is when having and choosing the right video head for the job makes all the difference.

11/21/2023

Re-installing the metal module dividers into the RCA TR-70-B rebuild project. I am rebuilding this VTR as a Play-Only machine, so there are blank plates installed over the Erase, RCO, Editor, and Record amp module slots. There is absolutely ZERO possibility of accidental erasure or recording over a valuable tape, as the recording electronics are no longer present. Divider panels are reinstalled starting from the left lower, working across to the right going: left-bottom, left-top, move right one slot, repeat, etc. I cannot find words to explain how difficult it is to align and start threading-in the upside-down upper rear allen 4-40x1/4"machine screws on the lower module row. You have to think "small" and crawl in from the front. Challenging!! I would love to know how they did that at the RCA factory in the 1960s. 😄

11/09/2023

....So how's your day been? Mine? Well...

Running down a wire in a RCA TR-70 2 inch quadruplex video tape machine overhead monitor bridge behind the Conrac video monitor. It's a whole lotta fun! 😁

10/26/2023

RCA TR-70B Wiring Harness Part 5

Remounting the TR-70B backplane and wiring harness into the TR-22 frame.

10/23/2023

Today's job:
A ~1960 vintage Ampex LBM mechanical spliced reel.

09/20/2023

RCA TR-70B Progress:

Repainting and restoring the TR-70 B head cover to operable condition.

09/08/2023

I finally got around to disassembling and repainting the Ampex ACR-25B transport doors last week while busy painting the RCA TR-70B parts & pieces. Now they are mounted back in their place on the transport and looking good! 😃

09/02/2023

Sanding and primering the RCA TR-70B transport overlay today. Most of the the pitting was either sanded down or filled in with primer, thats good news. I think the painting and maybe an extra fine sanding between applying layers of paint will finish the filling and smooth those wear spots in smooth. It is a LOT of work rebuilding a VTR from bare metal frame-up, don't kid yourself. So far, so good!

08/27/2023

Cleaning up some of the metal parts today. One change I decided to make on this rebuild is to move the head blower motor assembly down to lower left where the on-board air compressor would normally be. I never liked where the blower was mounted on the 70B and C behind the transport right in the way of access, mounted on a flimsy thin cross member by using an overly-thick(and heavy) piece of 3/16 steel that weighed more than the motor did! Since I have house air systems, the on-board compressor, air tank, and vacuum pump were the first things to go.

08/26/2023

Repainting the plywood lower shelf of the RCA TR-70B today and refitting it into the freshly repainted TR-22 lower frame.

08/24/2023

RCA work update:

Update on the work progress stripping and repurposing an RCA TR-22 frame for use in rebuilding an RCA TR-70-B 2" Quad VTR.

08/12/2023

More Quads On The Move, July-August:

08/02/2023

https://youtu.be/iFNrfT6kL_k

Removing and cleaning the main air duct.

07/18/2023

Behold! The Mighty RCA TG-3 Sync Generator Lives Again for 819 French Standard.

07/13/2023

Making a custom panel for some of my AVR-1 personal mods. Purists will scream and holler, but I don't care, go ahead. I got tired of bumping my skull on that iron box overhead years ago. I refuse to live in 1972 perpetually without making changes and updates. What was a functional cabinet layout and design for 1970s era TV Control Rooms does not work all that good for digital archiving in 2023 without some adjustments for todays computers, monitors, etc., that did not exist when these elephants were built. I think Ampex shoulda put the pushbuttons here to begin with. I did however, use a piece of original Ampex metal from a junk AVR-2 to make the panel. It has a nice worn age-correct patina. I do have (some) standards. 😄😆

07/08/2023

Enjoying my Saturday afternoon cleaning up the control panel on the Bosch Fernseh quad vtr removing decades of fingerprints and grime. It is very satisfying to clean off the years of use and make things shine up almost like new again.

07/03/2023

Doing a Low Band Monochrome transfer to digital this morning on the RCA TR-60. When the Ampexes don't like a recording, usually a TR-60 or a TR-70B can be adjusted to play any screwy nonstandard tape you put on it.

06/22/2023

RCA TR-70B Part 3
https://youtu.be/GYDE8wZeCJE

Removing the rear shelf and components.

05/31/2023

https://youtu.be/z6Nlr4TAzRI

Beginning a complete teardown to the frame and refurbish/repaint/rebuild this old RCA quad VTR. Removing the upper monitor bridge and the transport in this v...