Vinyl pressing, tape duplication and printing plant in Haarlem (The Netherlands), operating under this name between 1971 and 1990. The pressing plant was Sony/CBS, Haarlem between 1991 until May 1998. In June 1998 Record Industry took over the operations.
The official name was CBS International Manufacturing And Service Center, please credit when explicitly mentioned on the release (e.g. on test pressings).
This was the largest CBS manufacturing plant in continental Europe and the only with its own printing operation. It provided for the whole Common Market and starting about 1973 records destined for release throughout Europe generally show BIEM/STEMRA.
How to identify this plant by vinyl runouts:
⚠ Warning
Please only add the runout data when necessary in the forms indicated below to the LCCN number and not the manufacturing codes stamped on the cover or on the labels: these refer to the market and not to the pressing. Only when the labelcode (listed below) is shown in at least one of the sides it has to be added to the LCCN number field and NOT the catalogue number alone.
By runout symbols:
An etched H in a circle (Ⓗ - see an example here): please add Lacquer Cut At.
An etched CBS Walking Eye logo (not to be confused with the stamped Artisan Sound Recorders logo!): please add Pressed By.
By the runout matrix:
1971 - 1977:
It could appears in different ways, such as:
xxxx-s (etched pattern for 7”s, e.g. 1076-A)
xxxxx-s or S-xxxxx-s (predominantly etched for LPs, e.g. 65780-A or S-64770-A),
S-xxxxx-s-t (predominantly etched on Stereo releases, e.g. S-4146-1A-1),
where
xxxx: catalogue number,
s: side indicator,
t: numeral (1, 2, 5, etc.), identifying the stamper.
In doubt do not add any pressing plant or ask in the forum.
Please do not add an LCCN number as it is not plant specific.
1977 - 1987:
nn_xxxxx_ms_t (predominantly stamped), e.g. OI_32008_IA_I / OI_32008_IB_I ('O' stands for '0' , 'I' for '1' and '_' for '-' please transcribe as such in the BAOI),
where
nn: labelcode (see below)
xxxxx: catalogue number (up to 6 digits, without leading zero)
m: 4 digit sequential number of the matrix in use,
s: side indicator (A/B/C etc.),
t: numeral (1, 2, 5, etc.), identifying the stamper.
Add Pressed By + LCCN number in the format 01-32008.
Additional letters like A, B, D, NL can also be found stamped separately, as well as label prefixes like e.g. CBS, EPC, GEF, AMS, JET or GTO.
Additional codes appear for contracted masterings, e.g. DLH, DPH, DKLH, DKPH, UKLH, UKPH, USLH, USPH, etc. The exact meaning is unknown though.
Also appearing are:
stamped HXD (D=Duitsland), HXE (E=Europe), HXF (F=France), HXG (G=Greece) and HXP (P=Portugal), or
stamped HPD (D=Duitsland - may also appear as etched HP Duitsland, HP-Germany or HP-GERMANY), HPE (E=Europe), HPG (G=Greece), HPS (S=Spain ?).
HXn and HPn meanings are unknown but likely indicate CBS country specific (contract) pressings.
1987 - 1989:
nn xxxxxx mst (usually no more underscores but dashes, a combined mst, and 'I' is replaced by '1'), e.g. 08 11367 1A1
where
nn: labelcode (see below)
xxxxxx: catalog number (up to 6 digits without leading zero),
m: sequential number of the matrix in use,
s: side indicator (A/B/C etc.),
t: numeral (1, 2, 5, etc.), identifying the stamper.
Add Pressed By + LCCN number in the format 08-032908 or 08 032908 (depending on the actual runouts).
1989 - 1990
nn xxxxxx yy mst z (usually no dashes and a combined mst), e.g. 01 655166 00 1A1 A,
where
nn: labelcode (see below),
xxxxxx: catalog number (up to 6 digits, without leading zero),
yy: two digit sortcode (see below),
m: sequential number of the matrix in use,
s: side indicator (A/B/C etc.),
t: numeral (1, 2, 5, etc.), identifying the stamper,
z: etched letter (usually A).
Add Pressed By + LCCN number in the format 01 655347 00 (or as found in the runouts).
By prefixes
Occasional label prefixes like CBS, EPC, GEF, MNT, LSP, VR, AMS, JET or GTO also appear (e.g.: MNT 4095-1A-1).
Sometimes there are releases that have the prefix (usually CBS) on one side and the labelcode on the other: these releases should be considered as variants of the releases that contain the labelcode on both sides.
Please do not add an LCCN number as it is not plant specific, unless the labelcode is also included (e.g. 14 CBS 656 009 7 1A1 A). In this case, please follow the rules listed above (without indicating the prefix in the LCCN number).
Center labels
'Made in Holland' and a characteristic slim font type which was used for the rim text. 'Made in Holland' indicates a Dutch pressing.
The label matrix number is positioned predominantly at 9 o'clock. The pattern reads: Label prefix + catalog number + side indicator (e.g. CBS 82238-1 / CBS 82238-2).
In 1983 this pattern was changed into "aa-bbbbbb-c" (e.g. 01-450638-1 / 01-450638-2).
Center label designs
CBS:
1971 - 1975: Orange center labels.
1975 - 1985: 'Sunburst' center labels.
1985 - 1990: Plain red center labels.
Epic:
1971 - 1976: Yellow center labels.
1976 - 1979: Orange with concentric circles center labels.
1979 - 1985: Blue center labels.
1985 - 1990: White center labels.
Note: repressing sometimes kept the original label design.
Computer Numbers
Since 1983 the pattern "nn-xxxxxx-yy" appears frequently on the cover, inner sleeves and/or centre labels.
nn: Labelcode (see below),
xxxxxx: always 6 digits for the catalogue number,
yy: Sortcode (see below).
Do not add the computer numbers printed on the cover or labels for manufacturing, printing or pressing.
Labelcodes (not to be confused with Label Codes)
01: International product
02: Embassy (1976 - 1982), International Nice Price (since 1982)
03: Local Nice Price
04: Artone
05: GTO (until 1982)
06: CBS Special Products
07: German special product (TV, Record Club, since 1985)
08: Manufactured in the Netherlands for non-CBS labels
09: Swedish local product (1984 - 1990)
10: Danish local product
11: 12"s (1978 - 1990), also promotion material
12: German local product
13: Alpha Records, Sweden (since 1988)
14: French local product
15: Not assigned (from 1992: Big Bag, Sweden)
16: DJM Records (until 1980), Arista / Ariola Sweden (1981 - 1986)
17: Dutch local product
18: Uitgeverij I.C. (Children / Dutch local)
19: A&M Records
20: Jet Records
21: Norwegian local product
22: Austrian local product
23: Unknown / not assigned
24: Illegal Records (2)/ I.R.S. Records
25 - 27: Unknown / not assigned
28: Belgian local product
29: Dutch special product
30: Aquarius
31: UK local product
32: Finnish local product
33: Werf Records (since 1986)
34: Finnish local product / TV-Albums
35: Finnish distributed product
36: Czech local product
37: Italian local product
38: Globe (3)
39: Cyprian local product
40: Swiss local product
41: Special USA product
42: Spanish local product
43: Special L.A.O. product
44: Portuguese local product
45: Greek local product
46: Israel local product
47: Polish local product
48: Hungarian local product
49: Special Australian local product
50 - 59: Unknown / not assigned
60: S.E.P.L.
Sortcodes (until 1989 on artwork/ labels only; since 1989 vinyl specific sortcodes also appear in the runouts)
00: 7"
01: 7", 2nd version
02: 7", 3rd version
03: 7", 4th version
04: 7", small centre hole
05: 7", picture disc or shaped
06: 7", flexi
07: 7", posterbag
10: CD
11: CD, 2nd version
12: CD without paper parts
13: 3" CD (maxi) single or CD 3rd version
14: 5" CD maxi single
15: Unknown / not assigned
17: 3" / 5" CD single
18: 5" CD single, 2nd version
19: 5" CD maxi single, 2nd version
20: 12" record (single / LP / 2 x LP)
21: 12" record (single / LP), 2nd version
22: Unsleeved records
23 - 24: Unknown / not assigned
25: 12" single picture disc
26: LP picture disc
27 - 28: Unknown / not assigned
29: 10" record
30: Music cassette
31: Music cassette, 2nd version
35: Music cassette single
36: Computer (data) cassette
37: Music cassette single, 2nd version
38 - 39: Unknown / not assigned
40: Promotion material or empty jackets or inner sleeves and booklets
41 - 49: Unknown / not assigned
50: Mini Disc
51 - 53: Unknown / not assigned
54: Mini Disc maxi single
55 - 59: Unknown / not assigned
60: Computer games
61: DAT
62 - 80: Unknown / not assigned
81: VHS PAL
82: VHS NTSC
83: VHS SECAM
84: 5" CDV PAL
85: 8" Laserdisc PAL
86: 12" Laserdisc PAL
87: Unknown / not assigned
88: 12" Laserdisc NTSC
Cassettes
Can be identified by a "Manufactured by CBS - NL" and / or a stamped / moulded "tulip" on the cassettes and cases.
Timeline for the plant
Originally established 1958 as Artone Holland, as 7" pressing plant (12" and LP were pressed since 1962).
In 1966 CBS purchased a 50 percent share in the company and in 1969 it decided to take over the remaining shares. By 1971 CBS had taken over full ownership of Artone and renamed the plant.
After adding a printing company and additional 12", LP and cassette manufacturing (January 1974), the plant became CBS' most important manufacturing facility in Europe.
In September 1980 a fire destroyed 75% of the jacket assembly plant and the adjacent art department. A new printing plant was reopened in June 1982.
Even though the merger with Sony Music took place in 1988, the plant was transferred to Sony/CBS, Haarlem effective 01 January 1991.
A 3" CD manufacturing plant was operative since November 1989 right next to the vinyl plant. All other CDs were either pressed by Sony in Japan or by DADC in Austria. The artwork however was usually printed in Haarlem.
The official name was CBS International Manufacturing And Service Center, please credit when explicitly mentioned on the release (e.g. on test pressings).
This was the largest CBS manufacturing plant in continental Europe and the only with its own printing operation. It provided for the whole Common Market and starting about 1973 records destined for release throughout Europe generally show BIEM/STEMRA.
How to identify this plant by vinyl runouts:
⚠ Warning
Please only add the runout data when necessary in the forms indicated below to the LCCN number and not the manufacturing codes stamped on the cover or on the labels: these refer to the market and not to the pressing. Only when the labelcode (listed below) is shown in at least one of the sides it has to be added to the LCCN number field and NOT the catalogue number alone.
By runout symbols:
An etched H in a circle (Ⓗ - see an example here): please add Lacquer Cut At.
An etched CBS Walking Eye logo (not to be confused with the stamped Artisan Sound Recorders logo!): please add Pressed By.
By the runout matrix:
1971 - 1977:
It could appears in different ways, such as:
xxxx-s (etched pattern for 7”s, e.g. 1076-A)
xxxxx-s or S-xxxxx-s (predominantly etched for LPs, e.g. 65780-A or S-64770-A),
S-xxxxx-s-t (predominantly etched on Stereo releases, e.g. S-4146-1A-1),
where
xxxx: catalogue number,
s: side indicator,
t: numeral (1, 2, 5, etc.), identifying the stamper.
In doubt do not add any pressing plant or ask in the forum.
Please do not add an LCCN number as it is not plant specific.
1977 - 1987:
nn_xxxxx_ms_t (predominantly stamped), e.g. OI_32008_IA_I / OI_32008_IB_I ('O' stands for '0' , 'I' for '1' and '_' for '-' please transcribe as such in the BAOI),
where
nn: labelcode (see below)
xxxxx: catalogue number (up to 6 digits, without leading zero)
m: 4 digit sequential number of the matrix in use,
s: side indicator (A/B/C etc.),
t: numeral (1, 2, 5, etc.), identifying the stamper.
Add Pressed By + LCCN number in the format 01-32008.
Additional letters like A, B, D, NL can also be found stamped separately, as well as label prefixes like e.g. CBS, EPC, GEF, AMS, JET or GTO.
Additional codes appear for contracted masterings, e.g. DLH, DPH, DKLH, DKPH, UKLH, UKPH, USLH, USPH, etc. The exact meaning is unknown though.
Also appearing are:
stamped HXD (D=Duitsland), HXE (E=Europe), HXF (F=France), HXG (G=Greece) and HXP (P=Portugal), or
stamped HPD (D=Duitsland - may also appear as etched HP Duitsland, HP-Germany or HP-GERMANY), HPE (E=Europe), HPG (G=Greece), HPS (S=Spain ?).
HXn and HPn meanings are unknown but likely indicate CBS country specific (contract) pressings.
1987 - 1989:
nn xxxxxx mst (usually no more underscores but dashes, a combined mst, and 'I' is replaced by '1'), e.g. 08 11367 1A1
where
nn: labelcode (see below)
xxxxxx: catalog number (up to 6 digits without leading zero),
m: sequential number of the matrix in use,
s: side indicator (A/B/C etc.),
t: numeral (1, 2, 5, etc.), identifying the stamper.
Add Pressed By + LCCN number in the format 08-032908 or 08 032908 (depending on the actual runouts).
1989 - 1990
nn xxxxxx yy mst z (usually no dashes and a combined mst), e.g. 01 655166 00 1A1 A,
where
nn: labelcode (see below),
xxxxxx: catalog number (up to 6 digits, without leading zero),
yy: two digit sortcode (see below),
m: sequential number of the matrix in use,
s: side indicator (A/B/C etc.),
t: numeral (1, 2, 5, etc.), identifying the stamper,
z: etched letter (usually A).
Add Pressed By + LCCN number in the format 01 655347 00 (or as found in the runouts).
By prefixes
Occasional label prefixes like CBS, EPC, GEF, MNT, LSP, VR, AMS, JET or GTO also appear (e.g.: MNT 4095-1A-1).
Sometimes there are releases that have the prefix (usually CBS) on one side and the labelcode on the other: these releases should be considered as variants of the releases that contain the labelcode on both sides.
Please do not add an LCCN number as it is not plant specific, unless the labelcode is also included (e.g. 14 CBS 656 009 7 1A1 A). In this case, please follow the rules listed above (without indicating the prefix in the LCCN number).
Center labels
'Made in Holland' and a characteristic slim font type which was used for the rim text. 'Made in Holland' indicates a Dutch pressing.
The label matrix number is positioned predominantly at 9 o'clock. The pattern reads: Label prefix + catalog number + side indicator (e.g. CBS 82238-1 / CBS 82238-2).
In 1983 this pattern was changed into "aa-bbbbbb-c" (e.g. 01-450638-1 / 01-450638-2).
Center label designs
CBS:
1971 - 1975: Orange center labels.
1975 - 1985: 'Sunburst' center labels.
1985 - 1990: Plain red center labels.
Epic:
1971 - 1976: Yellow center labels.
1976 - 1979: Orange with concentric circles center labels.
1979 - 1985: Blue center labels.
1985 - 1990: White center labels.
Note: repressing sometimes kept the original label design.
Computer Numbers
Since 1983 the pattern "nn-xxxxxx-yy" appears frequently on the cover, inner sleeves and/or centre labels.
nn: Labelcode (see below),
xxxxxx: always 6 digits for the catalogue number,
yy: Sortcode (see below).
Do not add the computer numbers printed on the cover or labels for manufacturing, printing or pressing.
Labelcodes (not to be confused with Label Codes)
01: International product
02: Embassy (1976 - 1982), International Nice Price (since 1982)
03: Local Nice Price
04: Artone
05: GTO (until 1982)
06: CBS Special Products
07: German special product (TV, Record Club, since 1985)
08: Manufactured in the Netherlands for non-CBS labels
09: Swedish local product (1984 - 1990)
10: Danish local product
11: 12"s (1978 - 1990), also promotion material
12: German local product
13: Alpha Records, Sweden (since 1988)
14: French local product
15: Not assigned (from 1992: Big Bag, Sweden)
16: DJM Records (until 1980), Arista / Ariola Sweden (1981 - 1986)
17: Dutch local product
18: Uitgeverij I.C. (Children / Dutch local)
19: A&M Records
20: Jet Records
21: Norwegian local product
22: Austrian local product
23: Unknown / not assigned
24: Illegal Records (2)/ I.R.S. Records
25 - 27: Unknown / not assigned
28: Belgian local product
29: Dutch special product
30: Aquarius
31: UK local product
32: Finnish local product
33: Werf Records (since 1986)
34: Finnish local product / TV-Albums
35: Finnish distributed product
36: Czech local product
37: Italian local product
38: Globe (3)
39: Cyprian local product
40: Swiss local product
41: Special USA product
42: Spanish local product
43: Special L.A.O. product
44: Portuguese local product
45: Greek local product
46: Israel local product
47: Polish local product
48: Hungarian local product
49: Special Australian local product
50 - 59: Unknown / not assigned
60: S.E.P.L.
Sortcodes (until 1989 on artwork/ labels only; since 1989 vinyl specific sortcodes also appear in the runouts)
00: 7"
01: 7", 2nd version
02: 7", 3rd version
03: 7", 4th version
04: 7", small centre hole
05: 7", picture disc or shaped
06: 7", flexi
07: 7", posterbag
10: CD
11: CD, 2nd version
12: CD without paper parts
13: 3" CD (maxi) single or CD 3rd version
14: 5" CD maxi single
15: Unknown / not assigned
17: 3" / 5" CD single
18: 5" CD single, 2nd version
19: 5" CD maxi single, 2nd version
20: 12" record (single / LP / 2 x LP)
21: 12" record (single / LP), 2nd version
22: Unsleeved records
23 - 24: Unknown / not assigned
25: 12" single picture disc
26: LP picture disc
27 - 28: Unknown / not assigned
29: 10" record
30: Music cassette
31: Music cassette, 2nd version
35: Music cassette single
36: Computer (data) cassette
37: Music cassette single, 2nd version
38 - 39: Unknown / not assigned
40: Promotion material or empty jackets or inner sleeves and booklets
41 - 49: Unknown / not assigned
50: Mini Disc
51 - 53: Unknown / not assigned
54: Mini Disc maxi single
55 - 59: Unknown / not assigned
60: Computer games
61: DAT
62 - 80: Unknown / not assigned
81: VHS PAL
82: VHS NTSC
83: VHS SECAM
84: 5" CDV PAL
85: 8" Laserdisc PAL
86: 12" Laserdisc PAL
87: Unknown / not assigned
88: 12" Laserdisc NTSC
Cassettes
Can be identified by a "Manufactured by CBS - NL" and / or a stamped / moulded "tulip" on the cassettes and cases.
Timeline for the plant
Originally established 1958 as Artone Holland, as 7" pressing plant (12" and LP were pressed since 1962).
In 1966 CBS purchased a 50 percent share in the company and in 1969 it decided to take over the remaining shares. By 1971 CBS had taken over full ownership of Artone and renamed the plant.
After adding a printing company and additional 12", LP and cassette manufacturing (January 1974), the plant became CBS' most important manufacturing facility in Europe.
In September 1980 a fire destroyed 75% of the jacket assembly plant and the adjacent art department. A new printing plant was reopened in June 1982.
Even though the merger with Sony Music took place in 1988, the plant was transferred to Sony/CBS, Haarlem effective 01 January 1991.
A 3" CD manufacturing plant was operative since November 1989 right next to the vinyl plant. All other CDs were either pressed by Sony in Japan or by DADC in Austria. The artwork however was usually printed in Haarlem.
