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

[Don Norwood]

Hi Ted:

Very interesting.  Although the date indicates it has been there for some time, I had not seen that on Rich's site, and I've not seen that machine elsewhere.  It certainly is the same headwheel.  I wonder how Rich determined that the machine was made by GE?  The manufacturer's number shown on the name plate is the same as what is on my headwheels.  There is no name on the headwheels either, but they use some parts that are identical to other RCA headwheels, and of course, we've seen them on the RCA "portable", so I *think* they are RCA, but more info would be helpful.

Reading the description, there is at least one error I believe.  The vacuum is not generated by the headwheel.  There should be a small vacuum pump in the transport.  The size and weight of the machine is not surprising.  It's in line with what Ampex did with the VR-3000.  It would be interesting to see what date codes are on the components.  My guess is that this is a newer design than the VR-3000 which came out in '67.

Don Norwood
Digitrak Communications, Inc.
www.digitrakcom.com
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ted Langdell 
  To: Quad List 
  Cc: Richard Diehl ; Don Norwood 
  Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 8:13 PM
  Subject: Octaplex--Even GE built them, using what look like RCA Octo heads


  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


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  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:




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   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




------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  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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