[QuadList] Octaplex--Even GE built them, using what look like RCA Octo heads

[Ted Langdell]

Looking on Richard Diehl's website for the Merlin ME68 link, I ran  
across a GE made 2" Octoplex recorder made on a Navy contract.

http://www.labguysworld.com/USH-17.htm

It seems to have used an RCA head...
http://www.labguysworld.com/USH-17_072.jpg

As showcased in this April 18, 2010, QuadList post from Don Norwood,  
subject 	Re: [QuadList] RCA 2 channel (8 head)

Hi Steve:

Both RCA and Ampex built transverse scan recorders with 8 heads.   
There were designs that had all 8 heads on a single drum as well as  
designs that had two drums sandwiched together.  There were many  
different applications for these and machines were manufactured  
starting in the early '60's.  In addition to the 8 head versions,  
there were also a variety of slow speed designs which had some unique  
headwheels, some even utilizing belt driven drums!  I've collected  
some head assemblies as well as some documentation on some of these  
systems, and included a few pics below.

Here's a "late model" RCA, 8 heads on single drum


That's the second time this head has visited the QuadList.  It was  
first seen January 13, 2009 when Don posted a reply to Re: [QuadList]  
New Octaplex recorder design accompanied by a track layout for the  
recording format for the AN AHL-4 machine:



  In the post with this track layout, Don reported:

"Following up with a little more info, attached is a pic of the head  
assembly, a pic of a "modern" RCA octaplex head, and the track format  
specs for the machine.

You can see that the RCA head very closely resembles a quad video  
head, except that it has 8 transducers on the drum. Additional  
studying of the manual indicates that the female guide on the early  
Ampex did not have any vacuum.  Instead, the tape path appears to have  
placed the guide slightly outside of the normal plane of the tape  
path, thus causing the tape to travel against the guide.

Don"


Secretary
Skype: 	TedLangdell
e-mail:	ted at quadvideotapegroup.com

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