Identifying pressing plants can be both challenging and rewarding. Pressing plants tell us where a single was produced and help explain why there can be so many different variations of the same title.
Special thanks to William Brown for providing valuable information and for identifying a large number of pressing plants on ZappaFrenzy, as well as to everyone contributing research and data on Discogs.
ALCO Research and Engineering Co. pressings can be identified in several ways. The most obvious is the ALCO logo, if it is visible. It can be difficult to spot, as it is sometimes stamped in the area beneath the label. In some cases, part of the logo is covered by the label, while in others the entire logo is hidden, as shown in the images below.
Another way to identify these pressings is by the delta numbers, combined with the fact that the single is pressed on vinyl. Monarch pressings use similar delta numbers, but they are almost always made of styrene rather than vinyl. If you are still unsure, you can compare the fonts and typefaces used with those found on other ALCO and Monarch pressings.
The ALCO logo actually spells “ALCO”. It consists of the letters A, L, and C inside an O.
A “K” followed by a three-digit number (K-###) in the runouts indicates an Allied Record Company pressing.
The Ruben and the Jets singles pressed by Bestway have “Bestway” stamped in the runouts.
Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Jacksonville pressings can be identified by a stamped or etched “0” in the runouts.
The Capitol Records Pressing Plant in Los Angeles can be identified by a distinctive star — either a five-point (☆) or six-point (✲) star. Warner Bros. releases pressed at Capitol Records, Los Angeles are identified by “LW” etched into the runouts.
Some pressings, such as The Hollywood Persuaders: Tijuana / Grunion Run, feature identifiers from both Capitol Records, Los Angeles and RCA Records, Hollywood. This indicates that one facility handled the mastering while the other handled the pressing. In this case, it is believed that RCA Records, Hollywood performed the pressing, based on the appearance of the vinyl. Capitol Records, Los Angeles vinyl is typically black, whereas RCA Records, Hollywood vinyl often has a slight sepia tone (thanks to William Brown for this useful information).
Capitol Records, Scranton singles released between 1963 and 1973 feature the IAM logo.
Capitol Records, Winchester pressings can be identified by an etched “Winchester rifle” symbol (· ─◁) in the runouts. On Warner Bros. releases, “WW” will also appear in the runouts.
Pitman pressings can be identified by a small stamped “P” or an etched “CP” in the runouts. A number indicating the stamper used will also be present, such as “CP-1”, “CP-2”, etc.
Pressings from 1979, including early Zappa Records singles, feature the number “56” on the label. This was phased out sometime during 1980 on Zappa Records releases.
Santa Maria pressings can be identified by several indicators. They typically have “1A”, “1B”, and one or more “S” markings, or “SI”, “SII”, etc., etched into the runouts. The “S” markings indicate the stamper number.
Pressings from 1979, including early Zappa Records singles, feature the number “25” on the label. This was phased out sometime during 1980 on Zappa Records releases.
Terre Haute pressings can be identified by “TI”, “TII”, etc., or “T1”, “T2”, etc., or “CT1”, “CT2”, etc., in the runouts. The numbers indicate the stamper used. “TI”, “T1”, and “CT1” represent the first stamper, while “TII”, “T2”, and “CT2” represent the second stamper, and so on.
Pressings from 1979, including early Zappa Records singles, feature the number “73” on the label. This was phased out sometime during 1980 on Zappa Records releases.
MCA Records, Gloversville pressings can be identified by the ⧈-G-⧈ symbol in the runouts.
MCA Records, Pinckneyville pressings can be identified by the ◈-P-◈ symbol in the runouts.
Bloomfield pressings can be identified by a block-shaped “S” stamped in the runouts (see photo). The “S” can sometimes be very faint and almost impossible to detect.
How Could I Be Such A Fool? / Help I’m A Rock, 3rd Movement: It Can’t Happen Here does not feature this “S”, but by comparing the label to other Bloomfield pressings, you can see that it matches. I have also noticed that the silver ink on Bloomfield pressings has a noticeably stronger shine.
Midwest Record pressings can be identified by the label.
As noted by William Brown:
“Midwest Record Pressings copies had as typefaces on their label copy, Ludlow fonts (with Radiant Bold being the text font) pre-1967, and Varityper fonts post-1967.”
I have also observed that Midwest Record pressings do not use a hyphen in the catalog number, unlike MGM Record Manufacturing Division and Monarch Record pressings.
Monarch pressings are usually easy to identify. They feature an encircled “MR” stamped in the runouts (see photo). In some cases, the encircled “MR” can be very faint and difficult to detect. I have Monarch pressings where only part of the circle and the “R” are barely visible.
Monarch pressings also use a five-digit delta number in the runouts. For example, the Monarch pressing of How Could I Be Such A Fool? / Help I’m A Rock, 3rd Movement: It Can’t Happen Here has Δ62371 and Δ62370 etched on the A and B sides.
Monarch singles are usually made of styrene, although vinyl pressings do occasionally occur.
Alco Research and Engineering Co. also used five-digit delta numbers, but their pressings do not feature the encircled “MR”. They also use different typefaces and fonts on the label. Alco pressings are always on vinyl.
“26” on the label indicates a PRC Recording Company, Compton pressing.
PRC Recording Company, Richmond pressings can be identified by “PR” or “PRC” etched into the runouts. “PR” was used on earlier pressings.
Pressings from 1979, including early Zappa Records singles, feature the number “72” on the label. This was phased out sometime during 1980 on Zappa Records releases.
Hollywood pressings can be identified by a stamped “H” in the runouts.
Some pressings, such as The Hollywood Persuaders: Tijuana / Grunion Run, feature identifiers from both Capitol Records, Los Angeles and RCA Records, Hollywood. This indicates that one facility handled the mastering while the other handled the pressing. In this case, it is believed that RCA Records, Hollywood performed the pressing, based on the appearance of the vinyl. Capitol Records, Los Angeles vinyl is typically black, whereas RCA Records, Hollywood vinyl often has a slight sepia tone (thanks to William Brown for this useful information).
Indianapolis pressings can be identified by a stamped “I” in the runouts.
From William Brown:
“(“Tijuana” / “Grunion Run”) Version 2 was pressed by RCA’s Indianapolis, IN plant. There is a fundamental difference between the Indianapolis and Rockaway, NJ (Versions 3 and 5) pressings in terms of label copy, even though both used Varityper fonts. I am very familiar with how Rockaway handled label copy compared to Indianapolis.”
Rockaway pressings can be identified by a stamped “R” in the runouts.
“SMK” or “SMI” etched in the runouts indicates a Sound Makers pressing. The number “60” on the label is another identifying feature.
Southern Plastics pressings can be identified by the number “5” etched into the runouts and “Nashville Matrix” stamped. Nashville Matrix produced metal parts for pressing plants.
“DM” in the runouts indicate Columbia Records, Don Mills, Ontario pressing.
Quality Records Ltd. pressings can be identified by a “Q” etched into the runouts. The “Q” is often small and strange looking.
The sequence of numbers, symbols and characters tells us that this is a GZ Media pressing. Go to GZ Media on Discogs to read more about how to decode the runouts.
From 1977 to 1987, CBS Haarlem had a characteristic sequence of digits and characters held together by an underscore that identifies the pressings.
Let’s use the runouts on the side-A of Dancin’ Fool/Baby Snakes as an example.
“OI_7261_IA_I”
“OI” = Label code. 01 means it is an international product
“7261” = Catalog number
“IA” = Matrix in use and side indicator
“I” = Stamper in use
The sequence of alphanumerical characters tells us this is a Record Industry, Haarlem pressing. go to Record Industry on Discogs for more information about decoding the runouts.
“MP” or “MPO” in the runouts tells us that this is an MPO, Villaines-la-Juhel pressing.
“M3” followed by a 6-digit number in the runouts tells us it is a Pathé Marconi, Chatou pressing. The number “3” indicates that it is a 7″. 12″ would have used “1”
Société Phonographique Philips pressings have a few indicators in the runouts. “VEV” before the catalog number means it is a Verve pressing. “PPN” indicates it is a 7”, 45rpm record. “380” tells us that the Lacquer was cut by Société Phonographique Philips.
“=1” (1 is inverted) and “▽” in the runouts indicate Optimal Media GmbH pressing. Go to Discogs to read more about the identifying marks.
The characteristics for this pressing plant is a four-digit number followed by A or B (indicating side) and often SST (Schallplatten Schneid Technik) etched into the runouts.
SST is not a pressing plant marking but tells us that the lacquer was cut by Schallplatten Schneid Technik Brüggemann GmbH.
Pallas press singles for both the European and American market. A four or five-digit number with hyphens indicates Pallas pressing.
Here is an example from the 2016 My Guitar/Dog Breath single: -38544-
A three-digit number before F-#### indicates Sonopress pressing.
Example from the 1991 Bobby Brown Goes Down/I Have Been In You: 107 F-2654
“107” indicates date and year. “1” is 1991 and “07” is July.
“Manufactured In Germany” stamped into the runouts indicates Teldec-Press pressings.
Pressings by CGD Pressing Plant can be identified by the CGD logo. This logo has a very distinctive appearance with the letters forming a triangle.
Pressings by E.M.I. Manufacturing Ltd. can often be identified by a dot between the alpha and numerical parts of the catalog number.
Another clue is “Made in New Zealand by E.M.I. Manufacturing Ltd.” which is printed on the factory sleeve for the Tears Began To Fall/Junier Mintz Boogie single.
E.M.I. Manufacturing Ltd. was succeeded by EMI (Manufacturing) NZ Ltd. in 1973. There is very little information about the company after 1973. I believe the Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow/Cosmik Debris 45 was pressed by EMI (Manufacturing) NZ Ltd. since there are a few hints. The matrix number on the b-side has a dot between the alpha and numerical parts, just like E.M.I. Manufacturing Ltd. pressings and the pressing rings used for the NZ Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow/Cosmik Debris match the pressings done earlier by E.M.I. Manufacturing Ltd.
Singles with “710” stamped in the runouts and “NCB” on the label released between 1967 and 1970 were cut at Musikkindustri A/S. The Norwegian Why Don’t You Do Me Right/ Big Leg Emma would also have been pressed there. The label design and 3-prong center match pressings from Musikkindustri A/S.
On the sleeve of the Portuguese Cosmik Debris/Uncle Remus it says “Fábrica Portuguesa de Discos Da Rádio Triunfo, Lda.” F.P.D. is an acronym for Fábrica Portuguesa de Discos.
I am a bit uncertain if the pressing plant is named F.P.D. or Fábrica Portuguesa de Discos Da Rádio Triunfo, Lda.
Spanish Discos CBS S.A. pressings can easily be identified by the runouts. It has the catalog number followed by a hyphen, then side indicator and lastly an “O”.
Here is an example of the a-side runouts from the Bobby Brown/Stick It Out single: 8287-AO
Ljudpress pressings have “LP” etched in the runouts. Sometimes a 6-digit date is also present.
Here is an example from the a-side of Bobby Brown Goes Down/I Have Been In You: LP 910207
A distinctive six-pointed asterisk (✱) tells us that this is an Audio Services Ltd. pressing.
Singles from the UK CBS Pressing Plant are quite easy to spot. At 12 o’clock you see the matrix numbers, at 3 o’clock you find the stamper number and at 9 o’clock you see the mother indicator. The Mother indicator is a letter, usually an “A” that looks like an “Λ” or “∴” (see illustration below)
In 1980, CBS Pressing Plant changed location from Aston Clinton to Aylesbury, both located in Buckinghamshire. They got new vinyl presses after the move, and you can spot which single was pressed where by looking at the pressing rings. The new press at Aylesbury has a distinctive indent surrounding the small pressing ring.
The Gramophone Co. Ltd. changed their name to EMI Records in 1973. EMI Records used the same Mother and Stamper system as The Gramophone Co. Ltd. (except for the tax code) up until 1981. At 9 o’clock you will find the Mother indicator. It is a number and can be very faint. Sometimes it’s so faint it’s impossible to find it. At 3 o’clock you will see the Stamper indicator. The stamper number is based on the 10 digit “GRAMOPHLTD” code; G=1 R=2 A=3 M=4 O=5 P=6 H=7 L=8 T=9 D=10. You often see promos with a “G” since they are early pressings and therefore using the earliest stampers. (see illustration below)
In 1981, EMI Records gave up on this system. Pressings prior to 1981 can be identified by a stamped catalog number followed by a string of alphanumerical characters separated by hyphens. Here is an example found in the runouts of the UK Baby Take Your Teeth Out/Stevie’s Spanking: EMI 5499 A-1-1-1-4
The Gramophone Co. Ltd. can be identified by its unique Mother and Stamper Codes. The Mother indicator is found at 9 o’clock. It’s a number and sometimes very faint. The stamper number is based on the 10 digit “GRAMOPHLTD” code; G=1 R=2 A=3 M=4 O=5 P=6 H=7 L=8 T=9 D=10. This code is located at 3 o’clock. If you see a “G”, it means the single was pressed by the first stamper. At 12 o’clock there is a tax code. The tax code on Zappa singles is “KT”. (see illustration below)
The Gramophone Co. Ltd. changed their name to EMI Records in 1973.
From the early 70’s, Orlake Records had “Orlake”, “OR” and sometimes “O” etched into the runouts.
