Re: [AV Media Matters] Re-Evaluating Tape Mastering Stock

[rohre@ARLUT.UTEXAS.EDU]

Jim,
Thanks for the clarifications.

Yes, brown stain we had in Denver at Glen Shulze's lab was on
Honeywell 96 ferrite heads.  We had some on Spin Physics heads here,
once, but minor.  I have seen it in Ca.---on ferrite heads.

As to slitter, I was under the impression that it was a dulling
process, but maybe I was putting words into Ken Holsenbeck's mouth!
He was our factory contact, after Jay Zacarias would come down to
look at our tape anomaly on the new batches.

After the 797 line and 799 and 79L became available, and 3M stopped
giving customer service to small accounts, (in their eyes), we were
an Ampex account for all our uses and bought Master tapes (799 or
79L), to screen for our sponsors, and bought 797 for copies for
various Navy labs processing analog data with us.  Thanks to Ampex
Sales manager over TX and FLA for instrumentation, we were
introduced to NASA folks at Kennedy Space Center who let us "borrow"
use of Launch Control Complex's recorders for our copy sessions.  I
got to be adapt at running through airports with mu metal case of
Masters in tow!

I always appreciated the Ampex mentors I have had over the years.
Ernie Sorenson on transports, Dick who used to head instrumentation
tape div., Jay Z., Ken H., and many of the others you know.  Thanks
for your books and notes and more recently your valued input to this
reflector.

Cheers,
Stuart Rohre
ARL UTX