Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Ampex 200A Recorder (converted into a 201), 1948 |
Object Name |
Recorder, Audio Tape |
Description |
Ampex 200A Recorder (converted to 201), 1948. Black housing has two front swinging doors, attached with piano hinges, with round opening "handles."Opens to reveal electronic tubes and inner workings. Silver-colored aluminum top has two large disks for holding two reels through which magnetic tape would pass, a hinged front piece through which the tape is fed and a rectangular piece in the front left center with a toggle and five brown Bakelite buttons. Toggle is for power and buttons are to record, rewind, fast fwd, start and stop. There is a speaker opening in the bottom of the left door. Back has plastic caning panels for air circulation. |
Date |
1948 |
Creator |
Ampex, San Carlos |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
2022.005.001 |
Dimensions |
H-41.75 W-36.5 D-24 inches |
Dimension Details |
41.75 x 36.5 x 24; 400-500 lbs. |
Collection |
3D - Sound Communication Tools & Equipment |
Inscription Text |
"AMPEX ELECTRIC CORPORATION / SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA,U.S.A. / MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDER / MODEL 200A SERIAL 79 / VOLTS 115 CYCLES 60 AMPS 3.5" (black label just inside door); "CBC." (handwritten in yellow above label) |
Provenance |
Original Ampex recorder used by Columbia Studios until 1956 |
Notes |
"Ampex delivered the first production Model 200A in April, 1948, to Jack Mullin; the second recorder followed a few days later. Jack used serial numbers 1 and 2 for recording the Bing Crosby Show. Many of the rest of the first production run of 20 went to ABC in Chicago where they were used mainly for broadcast time delay. "This was a revolutionary change for the broadcast industry, because they now could replace their disk lathes with Ampex recorders that provided much better sound quality, were easier to operate, and used a recording medium (magnetic tape) that could be erased and reused many times." [https://www.historyofrecording.com/AMPEX_Model_200.html 01/25/2022] |
Search Terms |
Ampex Recorders San Carlos |
Subjects |
Audiovisual materials Recorders |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Stuart Baumgard |