Video recorders archaeology

I cannot find a good place online related to video tech, especially ancient video tech. Can this forum become such a place?

Ampex-Nagra VPR-5, a 1-inch C-format portable broadcast video recorder. Developed by Nagra as a joint-venture with the AMPEX corporation of America it was introduced in 1983 as the world’s smallest, lightest broadcast quality portable video reorder.



Only 15 lbs for the recorder. I assume that about as much for the camera. She does not look very happy



I wonder what did Ampex think of Betacam that was released in 1982. Obviously, I have no experience with either, but reading online groups, they are comparable, with 1-inch being better for composite work, while Beta being much superior in terms of multiple generations if the signal remained component.

 

The best site about early video recorders I have found is
http://www.rewindmuseum.com/home.htm

Early memories of video were a reel to reel video recorder they had at school in the lecture theatre in the 1970s.
So finicky that only the school librarian was allowed to touch it. He had a monitor downstairs in his office so he could monitor picture quality and on many occasions had to come running upstairs half way through an hour long programme and blast aerosol air cleaner into strategic points (while the tape was still running) to get the picture back.

Both Philips N1500 "VCR" and Sony U-Matic (which I used quite a bit in the 1980s) were plug and play in comparison.

A retired Army Major who had been a Helicopter Pilot and was in the Amateur Radio Club could have done with that Ampex case in the early 1970s. He was involved in trials of mounting video equipment on helicopters. He once told the story of how he was flying the helicopter while a technician operated a reel to reel VTR in the back. Pulling a few High G manoeuvres put an end to that particular test when the technician threw up over the reel to reel VTR
A few years ago I actually found a report online mentioning those trials and the Majors participation but can't find it it now.

VCRs in aircraft obviously caught on. How about this for an unusual one
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223698731242
Good luck in connecting that to your TV though.

 

My first VCR, although mine was black
http://www.oldvcr.com/collection/index.html?Mode=View&Brand=Mitsubishi&Model=HS-700

As shown in the pictures it had a handle and you could pull out the PSU and fit a battery pack instead.
I never did afford that or a camera though.

I contrast in about 1985 I went to Bristol Balloon Fiesta to find a different radio Amateur friend sat in his car with a camera and a Sanyo VTC5000 all running off an inverter, filming the Hot Air Balloons as they took off.

p.s. Having a "Dash Cam" in the 1980s made for good Youtube content today.

I have lived here since 1989 but there are things in this film I never saw.

 

I knew Betamax had flopped when I saw someone selling. Star Wars tape £10. Free VCR. At one point I had three Sony SL-C6 Betamax VCRs all picked up for peanuts.