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Ampex Corporation Records
M1230  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Scope and Contents
  • Related Materials

  • Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
    Title: Ampex Corporation records
    Creator: Ampex Corporation
    Identifier/Call Number: M1230
    Identifier/Call Number: 2213
    Physical Description: 610 Linear Feet
    Date (inclusive): circa 1944-1999
    Abstract: Artifacts (including audio and video recording devices, recordings, and memorabilia) formerly comprising the Ampex Museum collection; approximately 25,000 photographs (including negatives and prints) and related indexes; documents in hard copy or microfilm form (including manuals, memos, sales materials, public relations materials, articles, drawings, engineering notes, specifications, and manuscripts); and other miscellaneous material relating to the history of the Ampex Corporation and the recording industry.
    Language of Material: English .

    Conditions Governing Access

    Collection is open for research; materials must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

    Conditions Governing Use

    While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

    Preferred Citation

    Ampex Corporation records, M1230. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

    Acquisition Information

    Gift of Ampex Data Systems Corporation, 2001-2016.

    Biographical / Historical

    Founded in 1944 in San Carlos, California by Alexander M. Poniatoff, an electrical engineer born in Russia. Ampex is a technology leader in high-performance digital information recording and storage products utilized in a variety of fields, including scientific, government, finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, data processing, oil and gas exploration, engineering, aerospace, film and video. Primarily known for their mass storage systems, instrumentation/data recorders, helical scan tape drives, robotic storage libraries, post-production switchers, digital special effects, tape cartridges, and system components.

    Scope and Contents

    Artifacts (including audio and video recording devices, recordings, and memorabilia) formerly comprising the Ampex Museum collection; approximately 25,000 photographs (including negatives and prints) and related indexes; documents in hard copy or microfilm form (including manuals, memos, sales materials, public relations materials, articles, drawings, engineering notes, specifications, and manuscripts); and other miscellaneous material relating to the history of the Ampex Corporation and the recording industry.

    Related Materials

    George K. Durfey collection of Ampex Museum photographs (MISC 1059) https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4737643
    Crosby-Mullin B-42 (pre-Ampex video machine) slides and ephemera, circa 1985 (MISC 2204) https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/13454909
    Florence James collection of Alexander M. Poniatoff and Ampex Corporation papers, 1964-1978 (M1728) https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/8448813
    Neal Kyser McNaughten papers, 1951-2001 (M2586) https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/13973756
    Ampex Historical videorecordings (MSS MEDIA 0014) https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4688789
    Joe Roizen film archive (MSS MEDIA 0017) https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/6688521
    Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound Ampex holdings:
    Richard Hess Mullin-Palmer Tape Restoration Project Collection (ARS0035) https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/6745997
    Ampex Collection Addenda (ARS0109) https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9323720

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Video recording -- Equipment and supplies
    Data transmission systems.
    Science -- History.
    Sound -- Recording and reproducing -- Equipment and supplies
    Silicon Valley