60th Anniversary of the VR1000 launch

Keith Graham has just commented:-

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the launch of the Ampex VR1000. The Santa Clara (California) chapter of the IEEE, in conjunction with the San Francisco section of SMPTE unveiled a Historical Milestone plaque at Stanford University, where there is one of the first VR1000s on display.

Here is the link to a 30 minute documentary I made with footage of the event and reminiscences from people, including Fred Pfost, the last surviving member of the original development team.
Please forgive my “stealing” John Naull’s animation from the Christmas tape so many years ago.
You can find the video on YouTube here

(Keith is the originator of our photograph of the Ampex Sign)

A blast from the past – but, where?

John Farr contacted me to let me know about a shot in the titles of “The 80s with Dominic Sandbrook”, transmitted last Thursday, August 4th, on BBC2.

I’ve grabbed a frame from the third shot in the programme as it features the late Ron Sangster.RBS copy

The question is, which cubicle?

Current thoughts are VT4, but, sitting here just before posting, could it be VT9?
Answers in an email, please!

 

Vacancy at the BFI

charles.fairall@bfi.org.uk thought that you may be interested in this job.

Job title: Archive Support Engineer
Job reference: REQ0172
Application closing date: 24/05/2016
Location: Hertfordshire – Berkhamsted
Salary: £28,482 – £33,321
Package:
Job category/type: Fixed-term

We are looking to recruit an Archive Support Engineer on a fixed-term basis to join the Conservation team as soon as possible.

This exciting role will provide expert engineering and technical support, maintaining and sustaining the diverse range of audio visual equipment, both analogue and digital, to meet a wide range of exciting archive objectives and projects.

If you are fascinated with machinery and technologies, backed up by relevant qualifications and professional experience gained at a practical level, this role will involve working with electronic and electro-mechanical equipment and associated systems vital to the preservation of one of the world’s greatest collections of film and television. You will require strong technical aptitude and possess the necessary skills and knowledge to diagnose faults and repair equipment, working at component level. The ideal candidate will already have excellent knowledge of current and legacy video, audio, digital, television and film systems, spanning all historic technologies, although expert skills and knowledge exist within the team to support this role.

The role is based at the BFI National Archive in Berkhamsted (nearest station is Berkhamsted) and is to start as soon as possible.

You will enjoy benefits such as our BFI pension scheme, 28-33 days annual leave, tickets to BFI festivals and events plus many others.

Further details about the role, including an information pack, can be obtained by clicking here.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 24th May 2016.

First interviews will be held on Tuesday 31st May 2016.