[BC] Re: Unique VP-50

[Hershberger, Dave]

> Phil Alexander writes:
> 
> I'm not sure about it, but ISTR that the VP's were the brainchild
> of a guy whose name I can never remember. If it was, he also did the 
> Vanguard.  His next project was the stereo FM mod monitor, which
> surprised me by working rather well as test gear for exciter 
> alignments.
> He had discovered OP amps, and the mod monitor was loaded with them.
> Now, why can I never remember his name? Oh, right, Vanguard and VP's,
> that is enough reason I guess. <g>
> 

>From that era there were two Gates FM modulation monitors that I know of.
First was the terrible GTM88 or GT-88 monitor (I can't remember the model
number, it may have had an "R" suffix). That product was designed by
somebody from Europe, possibly Germany, possibly named Otto or something
like that. I never met him - he was long gone when I showed up at
Harris/Gates in 1975. I kind of doubt that he was involved with the VP50.

The other FM modulation monitor was the FT-80/FS-80 combo. Those were
designed by Bob Weirather and they worked.

Another thing I remember hearing at Harris was that most of the VP50s sold
went to Viet Nam, to AFRTS and/or VOA. I remember hearing that very few were
sold domestically and that most of them went to Viet Nam.

Dave Hershberger 
Principal Engineer 
AXCERA
Tel: 530-272-HDTV (4388)
Fax: 530-272-4505 
dhershberger at axcera.com <mailto:dhershberger at axcera.com> 
AXCERA. Axcessing the new era of digital communications. www.axcera.com 
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