In article ,
Iain Churches wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Iain Churches wrote:
I have never use the ProLine- but its looks don't inspire confidence!

It is arguably one of the finest performing 1/4" machines ever in some
ways - notably wow and flutter, with the twin capstan closed loop
drive. Very fast starting too, so excellent for playing into a 'live'
situation. Was also the first machine to be able to act as a 'colour
locked master' to VTRs - a co-operation with Thames TV.

Yes I think you have mentioned that before. It does not *look* like
a robust, high quality machine though, when compared with the Studers.
But looks can be deceptive:-)

It certainly didn't look like an industrial 'stylist' had been near it -
and not helped by using stock switches for the controls. And it wasn't the
most reliable of machines. However, I have a great affection for them as
they were very nice to operate and edit on - not always the case with all
Studer machines. If you get a chance of one for your collection at a
sensible price - ie pennies - buy it and see what I mean. But I don't
think the BBC ever used them.

There is an E200 there also. Plus an EMI BTR2. These were
uibiquitous- The BTR4 was probably the last broadcast/studio
machine built in the UK. Never seen one second hand.

Well, the Proline was UK made up to at least the early '90s - was EMI
still involved in tape machine production by then?

How come? Leevers Rich closed long before that.

Brain fart - make that '80s. Thames started buying Studer A810s for studio
use then after a brief and disastrous flirtation with the Nagra T - they
got sent back.

EMI stopped producing the BTR4 in the mid/late 70s I think.
It was not as well-accepted as they hoped it would be.
The other British pro manufacturers, Bias Electronics and
Scopetronics also disappeared about the same time.

I've never actually seen one.

Tom Reps was also trying to break into the professional
market. he never made it. The other British efforts, Brenell
and Soundcraft were lightweights, and had poor levels of
reliability.

The BTR2 was of course the definitive editing machine - but too big
for TV use.

Wonderful beast. Decca had a very large number of them.

I remember seeing the frame of one in a front garden in Battersea not that
long ago. ;-)

There were also rows of TR90s in the redunandancy store.

Nice machines.

My E200 is at:

http://www.kolumbus.fi/iain.churches...projects1.html

BBC TV never bought the E200 in any quantity having moved on to B62s as
the standard TV studio machine.

About 1000 E200s were in use in broadcast and studios in 1972
in the London area alone. By far the greatest percentage were at
BBC BH.

Yes - radio and TV often went their own ways. BH used to have a vast
number of Philips machines - all elastic bands and bowden cables as one
engineer put it...


BTW, IIRC the E200 was known as a Mk VI in BBC circles. The Mk IV was
the last Leevers commonly in use there. Dunno what happened to the Mk
V. ;-)

Willi Studer:-)

And rightly so. ;-)

--
*If you don't pay your exorcist you get repossessed.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.