Charles P. Ginsburg | Famous People of California

By Sarah Lane
Mar 21, 2003, 4:37pm

Vital Statistics

Born: July 27, 1920 | San Francisco, CA
Died: April 9, 1992  | Eugene, OR

Born in California, Charles P. Ginsburg made a huge contribution to technology with his invention and development of video magnetic tape recording for instant playback.

Although he began his career as a pre-med student and even studied animal husbandry, by 1940, he was working as a sound technician and later as a studio and transmitter engineer. He graduated with a B.A. from San Jose State College in 1948 and joined the Ampex Corporation in 1952, where he would make his mark in the world of television.

Ginsburg’s Major Contribution

Ginsburg revolutionized television broadcasting by developing a system that used a rapidly rotating recording head to apply high-frequency signals onto a reel of magnetic tape. This invention made instant replay possible, reduced production time by many hours, allowed for rapid editing, and increased flexibility in presenting news and other programming. In 1957, Ginsburg won an Emmy for his outstanding contribution to the industry of the VTR or Video Tape Recorder. He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1990 for leading the VTR research team at Ampex Corporation.

In 1956, CBS was the first network to use VTR technology after demonstrations caused Ampex to be bombarded with new orders for the gadget. Ampex sold the first video tape recorder for $50,000 in 1956. NASA has used Ampex recorders and magnetic tape for all space missions since 1958, and in 1960, Ampex received an Oscar for technical achievement. In 1957, Ampex also received an Emmy from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Ginsburg was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1973 for the invention and pioneering development of video magnetic tape recording for instant playback. His list of honors is quite lengthy. In all, Ginsburg received seven U.S. patents and 32 foreign patents.

Charles Ginsburg’s Home Life

At home, Charles and his wife Edna had five girls, and although he was diagnosed as a diabetic at age four, it was two years after insulin was discovered, allowing him to thrive. Charles P. Ginsburg died at the age of 71 in Eugene, Oregon. Remember him when you watch an instant replay or a previously recorded broadcast.

Source:     National Academy Press

Additional Learning Links

National Inventors Hall of Fame
This is a link to Charles P. Ginsburg’s Hall of Fame profile. Get access to programs, workshops, and information on some of history’s most famous inventors.
Source:     National Inventors Hall of Fame  

Engineering and Technology History Wiki
Learn more about Ginsburg’s accomplishments in this specialized Wiki.
Source:     ETHW