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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SiefS6UDgW8lZyJUqZzxlrG2GtaZQA5uSdfzqH8IWUtcZrg75TaG1hDZX+SW4hy2
 GINno81ZN9d+tWTC8GeadQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-016564.txt : 20040319
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-016564.hdr.sgml : 20040319
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040319121952
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-016564
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040319

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMPEX CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887433
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				133667696
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
		STREET 2:		1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
		CITY:			REDWOOD CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94063-3117
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-367-2011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
		STREET 2:		1228 DOUGLAS AVENUE
		CITY:			REDWOOD CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94063-3117

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMPEX INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940505

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMPEX INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BRAMSON EDWARD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001016268
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20292
		FILM NUMBER:		04679275

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BATTLE FOWLER LLP
		STREET 2:		135 EAST 57TH STREET 32ND FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129356144

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BATTLE FOWLER LLP
		STREET 2:		135 EAST 57TH STREET 32ND FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd28252.xml
<DESCRIPTION>EXERCISING STOCK OPTIONS
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887433</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMPEX CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AEXCA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001016268</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRAMSON EDWARD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>135 EAST 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>85500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.80</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76625</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Bramson may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the following shares held indirectly through the following entities:  20,000 shares owned by Second Jeffson Corporation (&quot;SJC&quot;); 1,698 shares owned by Sherborne and Company Incorporated (&quot;SCI&quot;)(Mr. Bramson is the controlling stockholder of SJC and SCI); 48,959 shares owned by Sherborne Holdings Incorporated (&quot;SHI&quot;), a subsidiary of Newhill Partners, L.P. (of which SCI is the general partner); and 5,968 shares owned by NH Bond Corp., a subsidiary of SHI.   Mr. Bramson also owns 220,920 shares directly.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edward J. Bramson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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