Message-Id: <199601121649.LAA22375@grissom.larc.nasa.gov> Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 11:49:07 -0500 From: Scott Dorsey To: hcs@hsan.loc.gov Subject: Current List (still incomplete) This list started out as a response to the huge number of people asking questions about surplus instrumentation tape, developed into a short description on identifying Ampex tapes, and then developed into an attempt at categorizing all Ampex tapes made. This list is far from complete but is a good beginning: All tapes backcoated unless otherwise indicated (NB= Non-Backcoated) ----------------------------------------------- 021-- 1 mil rejected NB acetate tape (sold as Shamrock) (early 60s) 031-- 1.5 mil rejected mastering tape (maybe 406, 456, etc. depending on batch) 041-- 1 mil version of 031 051-- 0.5 mil rejected NB acetate tape (sold as Shamrock) (early 60s) 101-- Acetate based NB audio tape (1950s) 102-- 103-- 110 series 123-- 144-- Transverse scan video tape (1964-?) for quad-format machines 145-- Formulated for VR-660/1500 video recorders (1964-?) 147-- Formulated for VR-7000 video recorders (1965-?) 161-- 1" videotape (1968-?) 163-- 1/2" helical scan industrial videotape (1968-?) 187-- U-Matic videocassette (Sometimes this is labelled KCA-xx where xx indicates running time) 188-- Older Beta videocassette 189-- VHS videocassette 192-- 1" videotape (1970s) (replaced by 196) 194-- 1/2" helical scan industrial videotape (1970s) 196-- 1" B-format helical videotape 197-- U-Matic 3/4" videocassette (coexists with 187, better quality tape) 199-- VHS videocassette, NB (? to some time between 1990 and 1995) 208-- Betacam 1/2" broadcast videocassette 229-- D-1 digital videocassette 288-- Hi-8mm videocassette 289-- S-VHS videocassette 292-- 1.0 mil polyester 1/4" audio backcoated on 7" reel, black oxide. 296-- 1" C-format helical videotape 297-- U-Matic SP videocassette 301-- General purpose audio NB tape available on reel or cassette (1968-?) 304-- Tape optimized for low speed logging use (1968-?) 329-- D-2 digital videocassette 331-- 1.5 mil polyester on 7" reels, no backcoating, red oxide. Looks like 631. 342-- 1.5 mil "Plus Series" NB consumer 1/4" tape (185 nWb/m) (1970s-1980s) 344-- 1 mil PE, low noise, non-backcoated 1/4" tape. (available in 1973) 361-- Compact cassette tape (1969-?) 372-- Ampex 406 on 7" reels for consumer use (mid/late 70s). "20-20 series" 373-- 1 mil version of 372 398-- Betacam SP videocassette 404-- low-noise NB mastering tape (1965-?) 406-- 1.5 mil mastering tape (250 nWb/m) 407-- 1 mil version of 406 434-- 1.5 mil non-backcoated high-output brown-oxide consumer tape (1960s) 444-- 1 mil version of 434 456-- 1.5 mil mastering tape (370 nWb/m) 457-- 1 mil version of 456 467-- 4mm audio DAT tape, also in U-Matic, 1/4" for NAGRA-D and 1/2" for DASH. 472-- Stereo audio cassettes (chromium tape, NB) 478-- 1.5 mil low-print mastering tape (250 nWb/m) 488-- 8mm tape specifically designed for Tascam DA-88 use 489-- VHS tape specifically designed for Alesis ADAT use 499-- 1.5 mil mastering tape (>>370 nWb/m) 541 - Some kind of 1/4" audio tape. Available in 1967. 611-- 1.5 mil brown oxide 631-- 1.5 mil non-backcoated "red oxide" voice-grade audio tape 632-- 1.5 mil non-backcoated "brown oxide" duplicating tape 641-- 1 mil non-backcoated "red oxide" voice-grade audio tape (1960s-present) 642-- 1 mil equivalent of 632 651-- 0.5 mil brown oxide non-backcoated extended-length tape 661-- Cassette duplicating tape (1968-present) 671-- 0.75 mil LNER non-backcoated extended-length tape (cassette or 1/4) 674-- Cassette, low noise for high speed duplication. 678-- Cassette 704-- 1 mil non-backcoated low speed logging tape 705-- 1 mil backcoated low speed logging tape (same coating as 704) 706-- 0.5 mil backcoated low speed logging tape (same coating as 704) 721-- Digital PCM instrumentation tape (cobalt) 722-- Double Density digital PCM instrumentation tape (cobalt) 731-- Data cartridge for Ampex Digital Cassette Recorder (lower error rate) 733-- Data cartridge for Ampex Digital Cassette Recorder 756-- Intermediate band non-backcoated instrumentation- replaced by 766 in 1984 766-- Intermediate band instrumentation- replaced by 767 in 1986 767-- Intermediate band instrumentation tape 795-- High Resolution (intermediate band with low drop-outs) instrumentation 79A-- Variant of 797 made for government use only (1 mil) 797-- Wideband instrumentation tape 799-- High bit density digital PCM tape 832-- 1/2" computer tape (1965-?) 836-- 1/2" 1600 bpi computer tape (1965-late 70s?) 838-- 1/2" computer tape (1965-?) 870-- 1/2" IBM-compatible computer tape with new binder (1968) Notes: Ampex HG is a current-issued VHS videocassette. Ampex DDS is a DAT tape tested to DDS standards. Ampex Plus-Series is a non-backcoated tape sold for consumer recording into the early 1980s. 1 mil, dark color, on 7" reels with leaders only. All items without dates listed are current production items as far as this writing (1995). Note that many instrumentation tapes come on rugged AEG reels rather than normal NAB reels; they will fit on the same hubs but you cannot exchange flanges. LNER= Low Noise Extended Range NB= Non-Backcoated Many thanks to George LaForgea from Quantegy/Ampex and Howard Sanner at the Library of Congress for assistance in compiling parts of this list. ------------------------- Note headers follow -------------------------- From kludge@grissom.larc.nasa.gov Fri Jan 12 11:54:44 1996 Return-Path: Received: from grissom.larc.nasa.gov by hsan.loc.gov (IBM OS/2 SENDMAIL VERSION 1.3.2)/1.0) id AA1000; Fri, 12 Jan 96 11:54:44 -0500 Received: by grissom.larc.nasa.gov (8.6.11/server2.4) id LAA22375; Fri, 12 Jan 1996 11:49:07 -0500