VR-8000

[Don Norwood]

Hi Chris:

I have pictures of the VR-8000 that I took at the Ampex Museum prior to its closing.  Years ago I sent copies to Tim Stoffel who has them on his site, but I will try to locate the originals and rescan them so I can post higher resolution copies.  There was also an informational sign on the machine which I believe I have a pic of as well, along with a close-up of the head assembly.  The scanner was quite a sight to behold!  It would be great to see a brochure for the machine!

The structural form-factor of the VR-8000 became the design used for all of the VR series studio machines that followed.  Incidentally, the audio section of the 8000 was a tube design, and the first publicity pictures of the VR-1100 had the same audio chassis.  However, as far as I know, the production versions of the 1100 all had the new solid state audio which was later used in the VR-2000/1200/1200B.  

As to your model numbers question, I’d say there was some logic involved with the 2000 being a major leap forward while the 1200 was an improvement over the 1100 but less than a 2000.  And don’t forget the VR-3000, again a major development although in a different manner.  I have no theory about the 660/1500 series numbers!

Don Norwood
Digitrak Communications, Inc.
www.digitrakcom.com

From: Chill315 at aol.com 
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 7:32 AM
To: quadlist at quadvideotapegroup.com 
Subject: VR-8000

We have had a discussion of the VR-1001 that were airborne.  Now I went through my old literature and found the sales brochure for the VR-8000.

The question of the day is what was the VR-8000?  When was it introduced?  How many were made?  And how many sold?  Answers will be provided by the end of the week

Does anyone know how AMPEX decided on nomenclature for the machines?  I get the VR part of it?  But why 1000, 1100 then 2000.  Then go back to 1200.  I know that the 5000, 6000 and 7000 series were 1 inch type A machines.  But then you have the odd balls like the 660 and the 1550 2 inch helical.

Chris Hill
WA8IGN
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