The TRT 1: RCA’s First Videotape Recorder

Although Ampex beat RCA to the punch, with the introduction of the VRX 1000 in March of 1956, RCA knew how to record in color and Ampex didn’t. For each one to get what they needed, they made a deal to share technology. At RCA this resulted in the 1957 debut of the TRT 1 and the TRT 1B in late 1958 or early 59. While the Ampex was a flat deck machine with a bridge, the RCA VTRs were rack mounted in 3 racks.

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