1964
|
main menu | |
| ® Sony PV-100 |
1964
|
 |
The PV-100 was the world’s smallest transistor VTR. The two-head, helical scan machine had a tape speed of 7-1/2 ips (the same speed as an audio tape machine). At approximately one fifth the size of broadcast VTRs, it was considered “portable” and represented a revolutionary breakthrough in miniaturization, thanks to the first use of a “1.5-head” design (one head recorded only vertical synchronization signals). In 1964 and 1965 the machine replaced 8mm and 16mm film for in-flight movies on American Airlines and Pan American flights. Sony even introduced an “In-flight VTR Service” for the duplication of movies. Flight attendants’ inexperience in threading the machine and their mishandling of the tapes lead to numerous problems and usually no more than a few passes were made per tape. |