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<DIV>Hi Chris:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; COLOR: #000000">Don
Norwood<BR>Digitrak Communications, Inc.<BR>www.digitrakcom.com</DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=Chill315@aol.com>Chill315@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 03, 2017 7:32 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A
title=quadlist@quadvideotapegroup.com>quadlist@quadvideotapegroup.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> VR-8000</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
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<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Chris Hill</DIV>
<DIV>WA8IGN</DIV></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>