Early VTRs were black-and-white (B/W) only, later VTRs supported color television, with a heterodyne playback.
Still later units had time base correction playback, like the VPR-1 that could be used at television station and post-production houses.

The VPR-1 had several problems, it did not record the vertical blanking interval, which is why it was not compliant to FCC broadcast standards.
The video quality was not as good as other broadcast VTRs.
Thus Sony  and Ampex agreed to make a SMPTE approved type C format VTR (which was based on Type A).
Hitachi also later made a C format VTR.
Early VTRs were black-and-white (B/W) only, later VTRs supported color television, with a heterodyne playback. Still later units had time base correction playback, like the VPR-1 that could be used at television station and post-production houses.
The VPR-1 had several problems, it did not record the vertical blanking interval, which is why it was not compliant to FCC broadcast standards. The video quality was not as good as other broadcast VTRs. Thus Sony  and Ampex agreed to make a SMPTE approved type C format VTR (which was based on Type A). Hitachi also later made a C format VTR.
Type A videotape