Special:Badtitle/NS90:Milestone-Proposal talk:Ampex Videotape Recorder - 1956/Larry Lee comments/reply

From Peter, re the buildings:

There was no "original building"; there were many. Ampex was founded in San Carlos, but moved to Redwood City in 1950 before the VTR was even conceived. The company was always scattered over many structures in that Redwood City neighborhood, most of which still exist, but under changed ownership. The VTR work was done in two buildings, 820 Charter St. and 940 Charter. 401 Broadway -- the 1963 HQ building not in existence during the VTR's R&D -- has been taken over by Stanford Medical.

The area today is pretty dreary, not exactly a "nice" place, and it attracts few casual visitors.

Shayne adds:

The current Ampex building is owned by Stanford, and there's no guarantee there'll be there for any length of time. The Ampex sign visible from 101 is in the middle of a planter bed at the end of a parking lot on a lightly traveled frontage road, so there'd be low foot traffic and the area would require modification (i.e., paving).

I have not visited the Charter St. locations, but am quite familiar with the area, and dreary is perhaps the best way of putting it.

The San Mateo County History museum could not guarantee a long-term spot for the plaque when I talked to them. Of all the options, Stanford's Green Library was the most open to working with us, has a VTR on display, and, I think in the long run, will be one of the institutions around here most committed to the preservation and display of technological history.

So while a physical building or two where the work actually occurred may still be standing, I think Stanford is an overwhelmingly better choice for both traffic and long-term maintenance.