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In Case You Missed This…The Smith Block, Up Close And Personal
Earlier in the week, I posted a photo of a 1965 NBC videotape edit session using the Smith Block. Thanks to David Crosthwait at DC Video, here are some awesome close ups of the Smith Block which was created by NBC Burbank editor Bob Smith.
Resolving fluid anyone..anyone?
Wasn’t there an old Columbo episode that featured this? Or was it Mission Impossible?
Long after the age of splice editing, I would take on the task of mending snapped tape in 3/4″ and D2 cartridges.
The Bob Smith referred to in this post is my father. He is 94 now. He says he bought it from the guy who designed and built it in Cucamonga and introduced it to NBC-Burbank. It cost about $1k at the time. After working freelance with it for awhile he sold it to KCET. Apparently NBC was awarded some type of technical mention for this device but my father was never recognized for introducing it as a popular device among editors.
Horror memories coming back. Did you know Laugh In was edited this way?
Boy does that bring back memories……
One of the things our Videotape Operator used the block for, actually more often than editing a video piece was to put leader on the beginning of the tape at precisely 5 seconds from head of video, to facilitate quick changes, since we only had one machine. He could actually change tapes in under 10 seconds. He was incredible to watch
I remember using one of these!
If you ever come through Athens, GA, you must let me take you to the Peabody Awards display with its wonderful collection of old equipment. It delights my students.
I miss the sound of video tape rewind in the hallways.
I had one of the “old guys” at a station I worked at (can’t remember which one) who showed me how to edit tape with one of the those. But, it was to fix a tape reel that broke at the head of the tape, not to edit an actual scene. I remember at the time how antiquated it seemed. Now that I can say that I actually used one of those, I feel antiquated. 🙂
Learned to cut on one of these. Never cut anything that aired. We got an Editech soon after and never looked back.
You are correct! Some of the Laugh-In shows were physically cut.
Got a chance to be up-close to one of these at a New England Show two years ago. Can’t even imagine cutting a fast pace show like Laugh-in on one of these!
How ironic. An AVR-1 next to the physical cutting block.
I worked videotape at both ABC NY and NBC Burbank. At ABC I actually used the block complete with the liquid to see the control track pip. At that time, it was only used to cut out physical edge damage. Rare but actually used.
Explaining editing with razor blades is always a good way to frighten the youngsters. I miss the tape smell…
Yes!!! You are incorrect. It was common in the Early Days of Video Tape for Broadcasting.
I was under the impression that the physical cutting of video tape was only ever done under exceptional situations. Am I wrong?
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