[BC] Ampex 350

[wcj9996]

Peter:

I beg to differ with you regarding the Ampex 350 hubs.  The machines That I had 
were 1954 - 55 models.  They all had 3 spring steel pins in the hub, about the 
size of #20 solid wire.  They were probably replaced in later production with 
the Zamac splines.  I didn't have the budget to buy replacement Ampex parts.  I 
also had problems with the early brakes.  The bands were lined with graphite 
impregnated felt.  The graphite migrated to the steel drum which became rough 
like sandpaper.  The brakes would grab when the felt tightened around the ruff 
drum surface.  Ampex changed the brakes in later machines to a Raybestos band 
with separate spring adjustments for each direction.  I would add those to your 
"faux-pas" list.

   walt

PeterH wrote:
> On Apr 10, 2010, at 12:59 PM, wcj9996 wrote:
> 
>> The Ampex 350 had 3 small pins in the hubs that would engage in the  
>> slots around
>> the center holes in the 3", 5" and 7" plastic reels.  These soon  
>> broke off in mt
>
> 
> The cast-in Zamac splines was, perhaps, the ONLY design faux-pas in  
> the 350 product.
> > 
> 

-- 
-----  walt -----