chas_kit
G45 Legend
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2011
- Location
- Hudson Valley, NY
I posted this on a Discogs forum, and we've discussed this here before, but I'm still looking for some answers, namely who assigned the ∆ numbers: AFM Engineering or Alco.
washlively on 45cat had the best summation and and more info on Alco pressings at: https://www.45cat.com/45_list_view_record.php?li=4463
Here's my summary:
Alco Research (6201 Santa Monica Blvd) advertised for custom pressings, as their ad stated: "From your tape we make • studio master • matrix • labels • album jackets • finished record • packaged and drop shipped - we specialize in vinyl 45's"
Alco had their own vinyl presses, and could also do electroplating for stampers according to Record World listings.
AFM Engineering (6209 Santa Monica Blvd) could make the mastered lacquer, and do the electroplating.
Cosnat (aka Jubilee) bought Monarch in 1961 and AFM Engineering in 1965, and moved AFM Engineering's plating operation into Monarch's large facility at 4852 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Jubilee also owned Record Labels Inc (capable of 6 million full color labels per month according to one article).
Alco was owned by Al Levine and Les Cottrell, and was never owned by Cosnat/Jubilee or Monarch that I can tell.
If Alco Research was not part of the AFM/Monarch operation, then why would it control the ∆ system?
Monarch handled large corporate orders that did not go through Alco, so AFM Engineering must have assigned the ∆ #s? This would make sense as AFM Engineering was doing much of the lacquer mastering and the plating.
However, trade directories list Alco as doing plating. And there are Alco stamps in many ∆ # vinyl pressings, so why was Alco part of the ∆ system if it was a separate company?
Monarch certainly had vinyl LP presses, but as far as I know Monarch made only styrene 45s in the '60s into the '70s.
Etan Products gets mentioned as part of Jubilee's west coast operation along with Monarch, AFM Engineering and Record Labels Inc, but I can't find any description of what Etan did, and the trade magazines did not include Etan in directories of pressing & plating plants. Etan is listed as a pressing plant in a union lawsuit against Monarch & Etan.
washlively on 45cat had the best summation and and more info on Alco pressings at: https://www.45cat.com/45_list_view_record.php?li=4463
Here's my summary:
Alco Research (6201 Santa Monica Blvd) advertised for custom pressings, as their ad stated: "From your tape we make • studio master • matrix • labels • album jackets • finished record • packaged and drop shipped - we specialize in vinyl 45's"
Alco had their own vinyl presses, and could also do electroplating for stampers according to Record World listings.
AFM Engineering (6209 Santa Monica Blvd) could make the mastered lacquer, and do the electroplating.
Cosnat (aka Jubilee) bought Monarch in 1961 and AFM Engineering in 1965, and moved AFM Engineering's plating operation into Monarch's large facility at 4852 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Jubilee also owned Record Labels Inc (capable of 6 million full color labels per month according to one article).
Alco was owned by Al Levine and Les Cottrell, and was never owned by Cosnat/Jubilee or Monarch that I can tell.
If Alco Research was not part of the AFM/Monarch operation, then why would it control the ∆ system?
Monarch handled large corporate orders that did not go through Alco, so AFM Engineering must have assigned the ∆ #s? This would make sense as AFM Engineering was doing much of the lacquer mastering and the plating.
However, trade directories list Alco as doing plating. And there are Alco stamps in many ∆ # vinyl pressings, so why was Alco part of the ∆ system if it was a separate company?
Monarch certainly had vinyl LP presses, but as far as I know Monarch made only styrene 45s in the '60s into the '70s.
Etan Products gets mentioned as part of Jubilee's west coast operation along with Monarch, AFM Engineering and Record Labels Inc, but I can't find any description of what Etan did, and the trade magazines did not include Etan in directories of pressing & plating plants. Etan is listed as a pressing plant in a union lawsuit against Monarch & Etan.
