Beatlefan

"Never argue with stupid people, They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” - Mark Twain

https://reference.discogs.com/wiki

vinyldiscovery
http://vinyldiscovery.blogspot.com/2018/02/lp-pressing-rings.html

(DTF thoughts on baoi)
A) Static things go on top (barcode, pressing plant ID, price code, label matrix....stuff that would qualify as a separate sub if there's variance). IMO, things like pressing plant ID's should go on the very top if that's the key difference between similar submissions for easier identification.
B) do not split up single matrix strings into multiple lines, use a single string. What's what can be noted in the BaOI FTF or release notes.
C) group by variant instead of BaOI type so that subsequent variants don't need to move stuff around as much.
D) duplicate all non-static fields. If one entry gets repeated over subsequent variants, that might indicate it's actually static and can move to the top section and de-duplicate, otherwise, add it.
E) if information is missing (ex, no mould SID), add an entry on your duplicate as '(none)'.
F) Remove significantly malformed/incorrectly added matrix. Keep the # open though so that subsequent matrixes added stay they number they were entered as.
Formatting text:
https://support.discogs.com/hc/en-us/articles/360007331734

https://www.7tt77.co.uk/matrix_numbers.html

On classical pieces composer as artist:
https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/393978#3652681

5.2.c. Matrix / Run-Out

3.2.2.a. If the release is a single or EP, and there are track titles, use the main track title as the title for the release. Do not add two or more track titles as the release title unless there is proof it was referred to on its release as this by the record label / artist.

1.4.4. Manufacturing variations should not be counted as a unique release.
For example:

Different stampers / matrix numbers for the same edition
Manufacturing tolerance based variations in the shades of label paper or ink color
Mislabelings such as: (correct) labels misapplied to incorrect sides, two of the same labels, or missing labels
Unintended vinyl coloration caused by variation in vinyl stock, etc.
would not count as a unique release. If in doubt, ask in the Database Forum.

Changes in guidelines:
https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/356624?page=2#7685027

Runout format per Nik:
https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/392356

http://www.discogs.com/master/create

https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/52550ef5d07b0969693effeb?page=1

Runout etchings : https://www.discogs.com/fr/forum/thread/743281

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№ ▽ ◇ ⌂ ↔ Ω ©®«» „” “”
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http://www.discogs.com/help/doc/text-formatting
UK printers:
Garrod & Lofthouse -> Garrod & Lofthouse sleeves have rounded or diagonal-cut flaps at the top and bottom and a side tab.
Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd. -> Ernest J. Day sleeves have angle-cut flaps at the top and bottom and a side tab.
Buckland or BuPr
SPC - Shorewood Packaging Co. Ltd. (UK)

http://wiki.discogs.com/index.php/Style_Guide
nik over 4 years ago
Plain sleeves versus full artwork sleeves are valid Unique Releases for the database.

Being sure that an item was released both ways is harder, but IMHO we are better to allow the variation in than get too strict about that - if facts arise later on we can adjust as appropriate.

Variations in company sleeves I'd say are not worthy of a Unique Release is that is the only thing that changed, unless there was some important significance in the change.

Series Cat # ?
http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/360311#3353215

SPARS Code (AAD etc.)

CD matrix manufacturer / company identification and indexing

http://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/52151a969469733cfcfbcbde#52151a959469733cfcfbc81b
RIAA Capitol albums
The following is a list of numbers, factories and when the LPs were manufactured. This is from the Perry Cox guide:

Number Probable Factory Probable Period of Manufacture.

Cover fabricator.

None Scranton Up to 1966
2 Scranton Up to 1967 Imperial Paper Box Corp., Inc. of Brooklyn, NY
3 Scranton Up to 1969 Modern Album of Long Island, NY
4 Jacksonville, IL 1965-1968 Imperial Packing Co., Inc. of Indianapolis, IN
5 Los Angeles 1964-1966 Modern Album of Terre Haute, IN
6 LA or Winchester 1964-1971 (original, subsidiary, green or Apple Label) Imperial Packing Co., Inc. of Indianapolis, IN
7 Columbia 1969 (original or subsidiary label)
8 Decca? c. 1966
9 Jacksonville, IL 1968, 1970-1974 (original, or green or Apple Label) Modern Album of Terre Haute, IN
10 Scranton c. 1965
11 Winchester c. 1976
12 Winchester 1971-1976 (Apple or Orange label)
13 Winchester c. 1976-1978
16 Jacksonville, IL 1968-1971 (subsidiary, green or Apple Label)
17 Jacksonville, IL c.1975 (Apple label)
18 Los Angeles 1970-1976 (green, Apple or orange label)
19 Los Angeles c. 1974-1978 (Apple or orange label)
21 Winchester 1969-1971 (green label)
22 Winchester unknown

Lacquers with F numbers (ending in F-1, mastered in Hollywood) pressed by Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles with six-star asterisk stamped onto deadwax; lacquers with P and T numbers (i.e. T2, mastered in New York) pressed by Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Scranton with 'IAM' in a triangle stamped onto deadwax - both plants used label typesetting supplied by Los Angeles.
higher lacquer numbers in 'W' and 'X' would have been seen on Jacksonville pressings.

Hollywood: Mono - F/G, H/J (pre-1967); Stereo - A/B, H (after 1967)/J (after 1969) [NOTE: In 1968, J was used for lacquers for The Beatles' "White Album" that were apparently cut at the Sound Recorders Studio where George Harrison supervised the cuttings]
New York: Mono - P/T; Stereo - W/X

Pressed by: MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville ◈-P-◈
Pressed by: MCA Pressing Plant, Gloversville ⧈─⊟─⧈
Capitol Records-EMI Of Canada Limited (Target Logo)
Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Jacksonville 0
Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Scranton IAM in Triangle. OR An abstract anvil-type symbol is used in the runout, indicating (before 1963) the Scranton pressing plant.
Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Winchester ━◁ or • ━◁
Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles ✲
a drum with 2 drumsticks Mastered at: Artisan Sound Recorders.
Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute = letter "T" etched or stamped into the run-outs. Many times it will be a "T 1", "T 2", etc. or written in the reverse, "1 T", "2 T", etc. In addition the center label may be identified with "CTH" , or "CT" suffix matrix code. (e.g. ST-A-702035CTH) and possibly a "CT
1. IAM in a triangle = Capitol's Scranton factory
2. * in the matrix = Capitol's Los Angeles factory

3. minuscule-sized, machine stamped matrix numbers and an "I" somewhere = RCA Indianapolis. That "I" is HARD to spot, but the tiny matrix tells you it's an RCA.
4. hand-etched or machine stamped matrix and a machine stamped "R" = RCA Rockaway
5. hand-etched matrix, starting or ending with "G" = Decca Gloversville
6. hand-etched matrix, ending with "P" = Decca Pickneyville.
E.g., 45-X-44444-F4P

⁰¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹₀₁₂₃₄₅₆₇₈₉
⅓⅔⅕⅖⅗⅘⅙⅚⅛⅜⅝⅞ ½ ¼
✽✠✡✢✣✤✥✦✧✩✪✫✬✭✮✯✰✱✲✳✴✵✶✷✸✹✺✻✼✽✾✿❀❁❂❃❄❅❆❇❈❉❊❋❖❤★☆
〄 (-> Japanese Industry Standard symbol, found on some records)

An example of referencing a release:
Reissue with red labels that differ slightly to Love Me Do, the original 1962 issue Cat# on labels = 45-R 4949

Useful resources outside of Discogs
http://wiki.discogs.com/index.php/Useful_resources_outside_of_Discogs

http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/324904
Specialty Records Corporation for SRC matrix http://www.discogs.com/label/Specialty+Records+Corporation
https://www.ascap.com/ace-title-search/index.aspx
http://www.bmi.com/search/
http://www.anorakscorner.com/PressingPlantInfo.html
http://copypastecharacter.com/all-characters
Deadwax mastering info

G.S.V.) -> Greg Vaughn
(spiral sign) @ D+M -> Robert Henke ( Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
*-J.T.S.-* -> JTS Studio, London
cul -> Moritz von Oswald
@t GP -> George Piros
“Soundmaster” Lionel @ Translab, Paris -> Lionel Nicod
7AP -> Augustus Pablo
a ( topless lowercase 'ɑ' logo) -> Allied Record Company
A 1ST FOR KEV – TOWNHOUSE -> Kevin Metcalfe ( Townhouse Studios, London )
A Porky ‘Oh yes’ Prime cut -> George Peckham
A Porky Prime Cut -> George Peckham
A PORKY PRIME CUT -> George Peckham
A Porky Prime Er-Er-Er Goldfish I Think -> George Peckham
A Porky Prime sniff sniff cut -> George Peckham
A PORKY PRIME TANGO -> George Peckham
aB -> Al Brown (5)
Allen Zentz -> Allen Zentz
AM -> Andy Mellwig ( The “A” looks like triangle; Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
an “A with M” sign -> Andy Mellwig ( Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
andreas at schnittstelle -> Andreas Kauffelt
andreas@schnittstelle -> Andreas Kauffelt
ARNIE or a closely spaced 'AA' (sometimes looks like an 'M' with a line thru it) on his A&M cuttings as well.
ARP (in script) -> American Record Pressing Co.
ARUN -> Arun Chakraverty
AT-GP -> George Piros
Audiodisc YYMMDD -> Pressed at Audiodisc AB
Az -> Allen Zentz ( note the lower case Z )
AZ -> Allen Zentz Mastering Company
AZ (with birds/flower) -> Brian Gardner ( Allen Zentz Mastering Company )
AZ CB -> Chris Bellman ( Allen Zentz Mastering Company )
B, "BW" or oblique "Bestway" stamped in run-out. "BW" can be found also in the label matrix. Or 19 on Label -> Bestway Products Inc.
B.E C.R -> Björn Engelmann ( Cutting Room, Stockholm )
B.E-C.R -> Björn Engelmann ( Cutting Room, Stockholm )
B.G. -> Bernie Grundman
BA -> Björn Almstedt
BA•CR -> Björn Almstedt ( Cutting Room, Stockholm )
BA-CR -> Björn Almstedt ( Cutting Room, Stockholm )
BA-EF -> Björn Almstedt
BA-GP -> Björn Almstedt
BA-T∞ -> Björn Almstedt
Beau -> Beau Thomas
BEAU -> Beau Thomas
beau -> Beau Thomas
Bell Sound -> Bell Sound Studios
Bell Sound sf -> Sam Feldman ( Bell Sound Studios )
BH -> Bobby Hata
BilBo -> Denis Blackham ( which looks like BiBo )
Bilbo master room -> Denis Blackham
Birds or flower drawing -> @ Specialty records =Brian Gardner
BK -> Bill Kipper
BKG -> Brian Gardner
C.R -> Cutting Room, Stockholm
C.T.S. Wembley -> C.T.S. Studios, Wembley.
CGB -> Christoph Grote-Beverborg
CGB / D+M -> Christoph Grote-Beverborg ( Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
CGB @ D&M -> Christoph Grote-Beverborg ( Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
CGB@D&M -> Christoph Grote-Beverborg ( Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
CHRIS P @ UNITY -> Chris Parmenidis
COPYMASTERS – Miles -> Miles Showell
CR -> Cutting Room, Stockholm
CSB ♪♪ -> Carlton Batts ( followed by two musical notes )
CURVE PUSHER. -> Curve Pusher Mastering, London
D Jay @ Masterpiece -> Danny King ( Masterpiece Mastering, London )
D&m -> Dubplates-mastering, Berlin
D. SWABY -> Dudley Swaby
D.A.S. Disc Mastering -> Digital Audio Solutions
D+M -> Moritz Von Oswald ( (note; M has a hook on the end); Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
DAMONT -> Pressed at Damont Audio Limited
DAS Disc Mastering -> Digital Audio Solutions
DB -> Denis Blackham
DBH -> David Hancock
DCHARLES -> Dick Charles ( Handwritten signature )
Denny -> Mastered By – Denny Purcell
DFI -> Pressed at DFI
Djay@ Masterpiece -> Danny King ( Masterpiece Mastering, London )
DK -> Dennis King
DMM -> Direct Metal Mastering
DMS C -> The Hit Factory, DMS, NYC
DMS cg -> Chris Gehringer ( The Hit Factory, DMS, NYC )
DMS cg [peace sign] -> Chris Gehringer
DMS Coin -> The Hit Factory, DMS, NYC
Doug -> Doug Sax
DT -> Dave Travis - Mastering Engineer
DUDLEY SWABY -> Dudley "Manzie" Swaby
E A S T embossed around the center hole -> Specialty Records Corporation
EcK -> Ralph Eck
EDP -> Europadisk Sometimes credited as a circled (Oval) "EDP" stamp in the vinyl run-out area.
ERT or "gene" (Capitol) = Gene Thompson
Es -> Eddy Schreyer (in a script, sometimes looks like E ____ or Es or Er
EURODISC -> Eurodisk Manufacturing
EUROPADISK -> Pressed at Europadisk, NYC.
EW -> Eirik W. Wangberg sometimes seen with EW/N or EW/CF
EXCHANGE 2000 – SIMON. -> Simon Davey
F.A. -> Frank Arkwright
F.A. Metropolis -> Frank Arkwright ( Metropolis Studios, London )
F/W -> Frankford Wayne Mastering Labs, NYC.
F/W J -> Frankford Wayne Mastering Labs, NYC.
Finnvox MJ -> Mika Jussila
Flower or birds drawing -> @ Specialty records =Brian Gardner
FOON MASTERING -> Foon Mastering Center
Frankford/Wayne -> Frankford Wayne Mastering Labs, NYC.
Frankford/Wayne Mastering by Michael -> Michael Sarsfield ( Frankford Wayne Mastering Labs, NYC. )
FST @ D+M -> Frederic Stader ( Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
FST D+M -> Frederic Stader ( Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
FST>D+M -> Frederic Stader ( Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
FTS -> Federal Recording Studios, Kingston / Total Sounds
G.K. -> Gilbert Kong
GC -> Greg Calbi ( Sterling )
Gene -> Gene Thompson
GEORGE – COPYMASTERS -> George Peckham
GF is Greg Fulginiti of Artisan
GK -> Gilbert Kong
GOL -> etched in runouts = Goldisc Recording Products, Inc.
Gordon at the Townhouse -> Gordon Vickary
GP -> Grammoplast, Sweden
Graeme -> Graeme Durham
GRAEME – SOUND CLINIC -> Graeme Durham
GRAZ – The Exchange -> Graeme Durham
Graz@The Exchange -> Graeme Durham
greyham the exchange -> Graeme Durham
GSV -> Greg Vaughn ( or “G5V“ )
GUY’S – THE EXCHANGE -> Guy Davie
HEM cg -> Chris Gehringer
Herb :^) -> Herb Powers Jr.
Herbie :^) -> Herb Powers Jr.
Herbie Jr :^) -> Herb Powers Jr.
Herve @ Translab -> Hervé Bordes
HFM ´[number] -> The Hit Factory, DMS, NYC
HFM cg -> Chris Gehringer ( The Hit Factory, DMS, NYC )
HP -> Herb Powers Jr.
HTM -> Harry Moss
HuB -> Frankford Wayne Mastering Labs, NYC. ( ? )
HW -> Howie Weinberg
J. Lemay - John Lemay
J.Y. -> Joe Yannece
JA Tape One -> Jack Adams
Jacko – Tape One -> Jack Adams
Jay or JAM or 'Jay Luck' - Jay Maynard (Capitol)
JC Masterroom -> Jeremy Cooper
JD -> John Dent
JD-ASH -> John Dent and Ashley Burchett ( ? )
Joe -> Joe Brescia (may look like 8 e in runout)
JG - John Golden.
JE -> John Eberle
JL MASTERFONICS -> Jim Loyd
John D -> John Davis
JON2 -> John Dent
Jonz -> John Dent
Jonz @ Loud Mastering -> John Dent ( Loud Mastering )
JS -> Jeff Sanders
K -> Andreas Kauffelt
K.P. -> Ken Perry
KDISC -> K Disc Mastering
Kendun -> Kent Duncan or Kendun Recorders
LAWRIE @ CURVE PUSHER -> Lawrie Immersion
LB -> Larry Boden
LH -> Lee Hulko
Lionel & Hervé @ Translab -> Lionel Nicod & Hervé Bordes
Loop-0 at D&M -> Loop-o ( Dubplates-mastering, Berlin )
Lupo -> Loop-o
LW -> at 90 degrees, indicates that the metalwork was made by Longwear Plating (Longwear Stamper Company)
LY -> Shelley Products .. Identified by suffix/code LY, most notably on Atlantic releases
M3 for 7" and 10", M6 for 12" or LP, M9 for 2xLP. => Pathé Marconi, Chatou
M.M.M.J.R. -> Mark Richardson (3) ( Metropolis Mastering, Chicago )
MANDY @ THE EXCHANGE -> Mandy Parnell
MARTIN @ C.T.S. -> Martin Giles
MASTERDED BY CAPITOL -> Capitol Studio & Mastering , Hollywood
MASTERDISK -> Masterdisk, NYC
MASTERDISK G.K. -> Gilbert Kong
MASTERDISK TD -> Tony Dawsey ( Masterdisk, NYC )
Mastered at Abbey Rd -> Abbey Road Studios, London
mastered at 'Abbey Road' -> Abbey Road Studios, London
MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF. -> Allen Zentz Mastering Company
MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally -> Wally Traugott ( Capitol Studio & Mastering , Hollywood )
Mastered by NIMBUS, England -> Nimbus
Mastered MIAMI TAPE -> Miami Tape, Hialeah ( (“MIAMI TAPE” is stamped) )
MATT OPTIMUM -> Matt Colton
MCR -> Master Cutting Room, NYC.
MELYS or MELYS! -> UK mastering engineer Melvyn Abrahams
Metropolis Mastering Chicago M.J.R. -> Mark Richardson (3)
MF -> Mike Fuller @ Criteria
MG or MGS -> MGM Records Division
MIKE @ THE EXCHANGE -> Mike Marsh
Mike @ The Exchange -> Mike Marsh
Mike’s™ -> Mike Marsh
MILES -> Miles Showell
MJFX -> Mika Jussila
ML -> Maurice Long (2) Capitol Records
MMMJR -> Mark Richardson (3) ( Metropolis Mastering, Chicago )
MPaul -> May look like Maul, = Paul Richmond (2)
MPO -> Moulages et Plastiques de l’Ouest, Averton.
MR within a circle, plus the triangle/5 digit matrix -> Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
MR -> Marc Regan or Mark Regan
MR -> Small hand etched = Mercury Record Manufacturing Company
Neil – Masterpiece -> Neil Devine
Neil Masterpiece -> Neil Devine
Nick -> Nick Webb Abbey Road Studios, London )[/i]
NICK W. -> Nick Webb Abbey Road Studios, London
Nick's cut! -> Nick Webb Abbey Road Studios, London )[/i]
NILZ – THE EXCHANGE -> Nilesh Patel
NIX MIX TOWNHOUSE -> Larry Nix
Noel @ Transfermation -> Noel Summerville
NOMIS -> Simon Davey ( “Simon” backwards )
NRP -> Nashville Record Productions
NSC -> National Sound Corporation, Detroit ( used to be solely Ron Murphy (except some very early stuff), now also Heath Brunner )
Ø(Phase) -> Ashley Burchett
Ø(Phase) @ Whitfield London -> Ashley Burchett
ø@CURVE PUSHER -> Ashley Burchett
Ø[Phase] -> Ashley Burchett
Øphase -> Ashley Burchett
øPHASE -> Ashley Burchett
øPHASE @ WHITFIELD ST -> Ashley Burchett
Øphase@ Curve Pusher -> Ashley Burchett ( Curve Pusher Mastering, London )
o -> Customatrix was a division of Columbia's pressing operations that handled the making of metal parts
ORLAKE -> Orlake Records, Dagenham
P.A. -> Phil Austin ( Trutone )
P.O.R.K.Y. -> George Peckham
PAUL S @ PORKY’S -> Paul Solomons
Paul S @ Porky’s -> Paul Solomons
PAUL’S @ PORKYS -> Paul Solomons
Paul’s @ Porkys -> Paul Solomons
PAUL’S THE EXCHANGE -> Paul Solomons
Pauls’ The Exchange -> Paul Solomons
PCMJR -> Mark Richardson (3) ( Prairie Cat Mastering, Belvidere )
PD -> Peter Dahl
PD-CR -> Peter Dahl ( Cutting Room, Stockholm )
PECKO -> George Peckham
PECKO DUCK -> George Peckham
Pete @ Tape To Tape -> Pete Norman
PIPO NYC -> Alberto Roges
PL suffix appearing in matrix numbers on labels, and/or "PP" etched in runout -> Plastic Products
Pogo with the heart belongs to Keith Olson of Pogoland Productions.
POLAR -> Polar Mastering, Stockholm (defunct, now Masters of Audio, Stockholm)
Pole -> Pole
POM TR -> Pompon Finkelstein ( Translab, Paris )
porkeys prime cut -> George Peckham
Porky -> George Peckham
Porky Prime Cut -> George Peckham
Porky Primed -> George Peckham
Porkys -> George Peckham
PP etched in runout -> Plastic Products
PRC was a pressing plant. Initially based out of Richmond, IN, they later opened another plant in Compton, CA
Primed -> George Peckham
R @ D&M -> Rashad Becker ( Squiggly lower case ‘r’; Dubplates & Mastering ,Berlin )
⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K -> Randy Kling, Motown etc.
Rashad -> Rashad Becker
Ray at The Exchange -> Ray Staff
RC code within deadwax = RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis
RCE -> Rick Essig ( F/W )
RCK -> Robin C. Kruse
RFS -> Bob Sowell (Robert F. Sowell)
RJ -> Ray Janos ( Sterling )
RL -> Bob Ludwig or Robert
RV -> Hervé Bordes
RVG -> Rudy Van Gelder
VANGELDER -> Rudy Van Gelder
S ,block-shaped "S" -> MGM Records Division
S -> backwards "S" within a circle = Shelley Products (Shelley Products Ltd - Huntingdon Station, N.Y.)
S.D -> Simon Davey
S.M. M.J.R. -> Mark Richardson (3) ( Session Masters, Carol Stream )
SD -> Simon Davey
Sean Abbey rd i...i -> Sean Magee ( Abbey Road Studios, London )
sf -> Sam Feldman
SG -> Steve Guy
SH -> Steve Hall
SHANE -> Shane McEnhill
Shane – the cutteR -> Shane McEnhill ( Graffiti Style; The “h” looks more like a “t” )
Shane @ Heathman’s -> Shane McEnhill ( Graffiti Style; The “h” looks more like a “t” )
Sol -> Sol Kessler (Bell Sound Studios) never signed work, may be Joe Brescia
SI MASTERPIECE -> Simon Francis
SI Masterpiece -> Simon Francis
SIMON – THE EXCHANGE -> Simon Davey
SIMON „HOOVER POWER“ DAVEY -> Simon Davey
SIMON „NEW SHOOS“ DAVEY -> Simon Davey
SIMON „NIGHT NURSE“ DAVEY -> Simon Davey
simon the exchange -> Simon Davey
SIMON. -> Simon Davey
SLM -> Sheffield Lab Matrix Usually denoted by "SLM △ 00000" / "SLM △ 00000-X" etchings in the matrix/runout area or sometimes just "△ 00000" / "△ 00000-X" along with a "-SH#" in (at the end of) the matrix number string (# being a number).
SNB -> Sabin Brunet
Sound Clinic -> The Sound Clinic, London
Sound Clinic, Graeme -> Graeme Durham ( The Sound Clinic, London )
Sound Clinic/Jonz -> John Dent ( The Sound Clinic, London )
SR -> Stan Ricker
SR/2 -> Stan Ricker
SR2 -> Stan Ricker
SJR -> Stuart J. Romaine
SP, SR or SRC signature -> Specialty Records Corporation ( (Stamped, Large S with the R and C in the loops) or (SP or SR on label after matrix) )
SST -> Schallplatten Schneid Technik, Frankfurt
STERLING -> Sterling Sound, NYC
STRAWBERRY U.K. -> Strawberry Mastering, London
STREAKY @ SOUNDMASTERS -> Streaky
Stu -> Stuart Hawkes
Stu. @ Masterpiece -> Stuart Hawkes
Tape One JA -> Jack Adams
TC or ¢ -> Tom Coyne
THE EXCHANGE -> The Exchange, London
The Exchange – GD -> Guy Davie
THE EXCHANGE – NILZ -> Nilesh Patel
THM -> Terry More - Mastering Engineer
Tim D. -> Tim Dennen
Tim D. Masterpiece -> Tim Dennen
tim dixon masterpiece -> Tony Dixon
TIMTOM -> Tim Young
Timtom -> Tim Young
TJ -> Ted Jensen ( Sterling )
TLC -> The Lacquer Channel Mastering, Toronto
TML -> The Mastering Lab (The Mastering Lab, Hollywood)
TML-M -> The Mastering Lab , Hollywood ( M=Master )
TML-S -> The Mastering Lab , Hollywood ( S=Slave )
TML-X -> The Mastering Lab , Hollywood ( X=Extra )
TOWN HOUSE -> Town House Studios, London
TOWNHOUSE -> Town House Studios, London
Townhouse -> Town House Studios, London
Townhouse Max -> Max Dingel
tph@schnittstelle -> Thomas P. Heckmann
TR -> Translab Mastering, Paris
Transfermation -> Transfermation Mastering, London
TRANSITION -> Transition Mastering Studios, London
Transition -> Transition Mastering Studios, London
Truetone Mastering NYC Carl -> Carl Rowatti ( “Truetone” or “Trutone”? )
Trutone -> Trutone Inc, NYC
Trutone NY – PA -> Phil Austin
Trutone NYC Carl -> Carl Rowatti
TVC -> Tracy-Val Corporation
ty -> Tim Young
TY1 -> Tim Young
Union Jack stamping in the deadwax may signify a pressing by Keel Mfg. in Hauppauge, NY (the future Hauppauge Record Mfg.).
URJ -> Universal Recording Studio
Utopia -> Utopia Studios ( With vertical bar(s) in the “U” / Harp )
Village Mastering NYC CR -> Carl Rowatti
Wally -> Wally Traugott
Wally C. @ Masterpiece -> Walter Coelho
Wally C. @ Masterpiece Mastering -> Walter Coelho
WCW -> Bill Wysock - Mastering engineer
Wly -> Wally Traugott
WG -> Wes Garland
Wayne = Wayne Watkins, Capitol
WMME Alsdorf -> Warner Music Manufacturing Europe, Alsdorf
Woodland -> Mastered At – Woodland Studios
Yann Dub @ DK -> Yann Dub"

Common runout groove etchings: how to list them (Version 4.0) http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/324904?page=17

The pressing plants and their codes:
AR: Allied Record Company; Los Angeles, California
PL: Plastic Products; Memphis, Tennessee
BW: Bestway Products; Mountainside, New Jersey
PR: Presswell Company; Ancora, New Jersey
CL: Columbia
RI: PRC Recording Industry Prod.; Richmond Indiana
CP or no code: Columbia; Pitman, New Jersey
SP: Specialty Records Corporation at Olyphant: Pennsylvania
CT-CTH: Columbia; Terra Haute, Indiana
WM:Midwest Record Pressings; Chicago, Illinois
LY: Shelley Products; Huntington Station, New York (Briefly during the summer of 1968)
MO: Monarch Record Mfg. Co. ; Los Angeles, California

Letters found on US London Records 1960s - 1970s
AL = Plastic Products / Example
ARP = American Record Pressing Co. / Example
BW = Bestway Products Inc. / Example
CJ = Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Jacksonville / Example
DG = Decca Records Pressing Plant, Gloversville / Example
DP = Decca Records Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville / Example
GL = MCA Pressing Plant, Gloversville / Example
M = Monarch Record Mfg. Co. / Example
P = Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman / Example
PH = Philips Recording Company, Inc. (between June 1970 to October 1972) / Example
PH = PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN (after October 1972) / Example
PK = MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville / No Example yet
PP = Peter Pan Industries, Inc. / No Example yet
SH = Shelley Products / Example
TH = Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute / Example
VX = Possibly Sonic Recording Products, Inc. / Goldisc Recording Products, Inc. / Example
W = H.V. Waddell Co. / Example

13.1.5. Covers should be added only if they are artwork (no scans of plain sleeves please!). For releases enclosed in or including generic artwork, this artwork can be added, but the primary image must be the center label information, or other such image that shows the most non-generic, release specific information. If available, CD / DVD etc booklets and other goodies are acceptable as well. Picture discs, colored vinyl, and other interesting media should be photographed as clearly as possible, preferably without flash.

3.4.6. Singles without sleeves should only list the A side as the title, unless it is a double A sided release. However, if they have two separate artists, one each side, please list both track titles in the main title as on this release.

Submission Questions....embedding

Always Confusing: Gatefold in Notes or Format?
++ Feb. 2013 <<
RSG §6.1.5 6.1.5. The Free Text field should be used to describe;
* Any notable packaging (for example gatefold sleeves, Digipak etc ( see 6.1.6)
RSG §6.1.6 6.1.6. Unless any release that has the same title and format on the artist or label pages is also released using different packaging (for example a slimline jewel case and a Digipak), package description should not be added to the free text field, but remain in the Release Notes.

3.4.6. Singles without sleeves should only list the A side as the title, unless it is a double A sided release. However, if they have two separate artists, one each side, please list both track titles in the main title as on this release.
+++
Formatting Options / Text Formatting / Discogs Shortcuts i.e. Black Sabbath
+++
RSG §6. RSG §6.1 Format + CD Matrix
Format Matrix: (SID Mastering Code) / (SID Mould Code) (SID Mastering Code) / (SID Mould Code) (NOW Implemented as: Mastering SID Code / Mould SID Code)
SEE: IFPI
++
Self-released Label: self-released
Not On Label: RSG §4.4.1
++
Database Guidelines RSG §1.
Guidelines
+++
BMG Direct Marketing + Columbia House:
Please do not add BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. as a label. Instead, please add the original label and its catalog number as the Label, while BMG Direct Marketing and its corresponding number should be added as the Record Company and 'Club Edition' added to the format from the dropdown menu.
+++
mossinterest page is good for pressing plant codes

(ac) = "SUBSIDIARY OF CAPITOL..." with Capitol logo on the sliced side
(as) = "MFD. BY APPLE" on the sliced side
(af) = "MFD. BY APPLE" on the full side
(ab) = "MFD. BY APPLE" on both sides
(ar) = "MFD. BY APPLE" with "unauthorized duplication" disclaimer on one or both sides (location varies by factory)

For the "Hey Jude" single only, the (as) variation is original.
True first pressings are missing the matrix number and the George Martin credit.
Later in 1968, Capitol decided to use the (ac) Capitol logo on Apple pressings of artists that were signed to Capitol -- including the Beatles. However, this was not standard everywhere.
The Beatles LP -- (ac) was used first
True first pressings have typesetting errors on 3 of the 4 sides
Wonderwall Music LP -- (as) was used first (apparently since George was not signed to Capitol as a solo artist); (ac) used later by Jax plant only
Two Virgins LP -- special labels, not made by Capitol-related printers. (as) only
Yellow Submarine LP -- (ac) was used first at all plants
"Get Back" single -- (ac) was used first at all plants
"Ballad of John and Yoko" -- (ac) was used first at all plants
That's the Way God Planned It LP (Billy Preston) -- (ac) used first at Jacksonville plant only
"Something" single -- (ac) used first at Jacksonville plant only
Abbey Road LP -- (ac) used first at Winchester plant only
True first pressings do not have "Her Majesty" on the label or cover
"More Apples ... Co-Op Ads" -- only pressing has (ac)
Live Peace in Toronto LP -- (ac) used first at Jacksonville plant only
Hey Jude LP -- (as) used first by all plants; (ac) used later at Jax plant only
The Magic Christian LP (Badfinger) -- (ac) used first at Jax plant only
McCartney LP -- (ac) used first by Jax plant only
"Let it Be" single -- (ac) used first at all plants, including some contract pressings
Let it Be LP -- (af) red label used on all Apple pressings
"Long and Winding Road" single -- (ac) used at LA plant and by RCA only
"Govinda" single -- (ac) used first at Jax plant only

Beginning in Fall, 1970, and continuing to Spring, 1971, Capitol began a transition to the (af) label for all releases.

In May, 1971, all Beatles back-catalog records that had been on Capitol switched to Apple. The Jax and LA plants used up all (ac) labels on these releases, through about June, 1971.

Ram LP -- (ac) on Jax pressings only

From here on, once a factory ran out of (as) labels they stopped using them and started using the newer (af) labels for all releases.

Exception: in 1974, the Winchester plant received a shipment of (as) LP labels, which they used on every LP that they made for a brief time -- including releases of some of the back catalog.

The "all rights" label appeared from September, 1975, to January, 1976.
Exception: Since the "red" and "blue" albums had custom labels, Capitol continued to use the "all rights" labels until they were all used up. This didn't happen until perhaps 1980.

DATING RCA VICTOR Records
Before 1955 RCA used the first 2 characters of the 4-character master no. prefix of both company issues and custom pressings* to encode the year -- this is either the year of the actual recording, or the year the master disk was cut. The first character is a letter to indicate the decade (since 1900): C = 1930; D = 1940; E = 1950. The second character, a numeral, indicates the year within the decade. For example:
D8 = 1948
D9 = 1949
E0 = 1950
E1 = 1951
E2 = 1952
E3 = 1953
E4 = 1954

If the code indicates a date before 1949, we can be reasonably sure it refers to the original recording date.

Beginning in 1955 only the first character of the prefix was reserved for the year. Some letters were skipped, likely to avoid ambiguity. The numbering system was abandoned in 1974.
F = 1955
G = 1956
H = 1957
J = 1958
K = 1959
L = 1960
M = 1961
N = 1962
P = 1963
R = 1964
S = 1965
T = 1966
U = 1967
W = 1968
X = 1969
Z = 1970
A = 1971
B = 1972
C = 1973
D = 1974

For further details of the master no. prefix see under the heading, RCA Victor Number-Letter Codes (19501974) toward the bottom of this page: http://www.ronpenndorf.com/labelography4.html

N.B. Many early RCA Victor records from 1949-early '50s do not observe this numbering system, for example RCA Victor 48-0001, "Texarkana Baby"/"Bouquet Of Roses" by Eddy Arnold. This record's sides are numbered 48-0001-A and 48-0001-B, and do not offer a hint to the date.

Among the other plants used by Polydor (for both LP's and 45's) in that period included:
- Columbia Record Productions, Pitman, NJ (56) and Terre Haute, IN (73) (their Santa Maria, CA plant [25] handled pressings for them in the late 1970's)
- Philips/PRC Recording Corp., Richmond, IN (72) (also, after late 1970's, Compton, CA [26])
- Capitol Custom Pressings, Scranton, PA (to late 1973) and Winchester, VA (I saw a copy of a 45 of James Brown's "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy," PD-14194, pressed there)
- North American Music Industries, Scranton, PA (plant spun off in late 1973 from Capitol)
- Shelley Products, Huntington Station, NY (54) (by this time, their "pop-off" 45 labels were but a thing of the past)
- Sonic Recording Products/Goldisc Record Mfg., Holbrook, NY (16) (typesetting on early 1970's pressings from Progressive Label Co., Brooklyn, NY)
- Specialty Records Corp., Olyphant, PA (49)
- Hauppauge Record Mfg. (ex Keel Mfg.), Hauppauge, NY
- Bestway Products, Mountainside, NJ (19)
- Presswell Records Mfg. Co., Ancora, NJ (18)
- RCA Custom Records, Indianapolis, IN (70)
- Allied Record Co., Los Angeles, CA (22)
- Plastic Products Co., Memphis, TN (30)
Incidentally, their code for Monarch was (24)
The numbers in parentheses or brackets are the known codes used by PolyGram beginning in 1979 to indicate which plant was pressing for them.

Atlantic / ATCO
LABELS

Record company codes (the letters after "ST")

A = Atlantic Records
C = Atco
CAP = Capricorn
CTN = Cotillion Records LPs
CO = Cotillion Records 45s
FC = Famous Charisma
SS = Swan Song
AS = Asylum
MC = Manticore
RS = Rolling Stones Records
VR = Virgin records early 1970s (Mike Oldfield) Virgin later switched from Atlantic to CBS and then back to Atlantic.
VA = Virgin late 70 (XTC, The Motors, The Flying Lizards etc.) Not sure why they switched to VA, maybe it meant Virgin-Atlantic or Virgin-America
VR = Virgin mid 80s (Steve Winwood, Paula Abdul)
BT = Big Tree records Doug Morris' (current head of Sony Music) label which he followed to Atlantic from Ampex and Bell.

Pressing plant codes for LPs:

PR = Presswell Records Mfg. Co., Ancora, NJ (they handled most of Atlantic's LP's during much of this period)
LY = Shelley Products, Huntington Station, NY
SP = Specialty Records Corp., Olyphant, PA
MO = Monarch Record Mfg. Co., Los Angeles, CA
PL = Plastic Products, Inc., Memphis, TN
RI = Philips Recording Co., Richmond, IN
AR = Allied Record Co., Inc., Los Angeles, CA
CT or CTH = Columbia, Terra Haute, IN
CP = Columbia (Pitman, NJ)
CS or CSM = Columbia (Santa Maria, CA; very infrequently)
BW = Bestway Plastics, Mountainside NJ
SO = Sonic Recording Products, Holbrook, N
MG = MGM Record Mfg. Division, Bloomfield, NJ (a brief period in late 1968)
ME = ?
FT= ?
Pressing Plant page: http://www.discogs.com/lists/Record-Pressing-Plants/213755

LP label example (Led Zeppelin I)
ST-A-681461-MO

ST = stereo
A = Atlantic Records label
68 = last two digits of the year Atlantic first received source (tape) and started working on mastering
1461 = tape master number (for side one in this example)
MO = Monarch Records pressing plant

DEADWAX

CUTTING LETTERS (following the tape master number in the deadwax):
These letters indicate the lacquer cutting for that particular pressing, with A being the first, and B the second, and so on.

An additional letter, always the same letter as the first cutting letter (but usually fainter) sometimes appears on Monarch pressings. Two additional letters, always the same letters as the first (usually fainter) may appear on RI pressings. These extra letters indicate an additional metal part made from the lacquer.

Also, on "AR" pressings, the cutting letter is replaced with a handwritten delta symbol.

For some promotional cuts with different banding and mastering, the cutting letter is replaced by "DJ"

OTHER SCRIBINGS IN THE DEADWAX

AT = Mastered by/for Atlantic

AT/GP (handwritten) = mastered by George Piros at Atlantic

AT/DK (handwritten) = mastered by Dennis King at Atlantic

ATLANTIC STUDIOS DK (stamped) = mastered by Dennis King at Atlantic

RG = Rob Grennell, mastering engineer for Atlantic in the late 60s

ab = Abbey Record Mfg. Co. (? we still don't know the exact meaning)

PR or PRC or (PR) = Philips Recording Co. (maker of metal parts from lacquers)

LW or LWP = LongWear Plating (maker of metal parts from lacquers)

MG = MGM Record Mfg. Division in Bloomfield, NJ
AMP = ABC-Paramount
M = Mercury
RCA = RCA Victor (on some contract pressings of Elvis' 1956 smash hits)

Records pressed by Specialty Records Corp. will have a stamped logo in the deadwax, consisting of a 'R' and 'C' intertwined in a larger letter 'S'. Also, records pressed at Specialty may contain a hand etched date in the deadwax. The date represents when the record was either plated at Specialty, or the date they received the lacquer from the mastering studio (there was a time in the 1971-72 period when that plant wrote dates on the deadwax of many a lacquer, both on LP's and 45's; this practice apparently didn't last all that long).

Lastly, records made by Monarch will have a stamped circle with "MR" in it, and numbers preceded by a delta sign. As for numbers with the delta symbol on the deadwax - this apparently originated with the company that did plating on the West Coast (Alco Research & Engineering in Los Angeles), and their system was used by a host of L.A.-area plants including their own, plus Monarch and another plant called AFM Engineering.

UNKNOWN DEADWAX CODES:

F.T.
REPL
W sometimes with dots near it.

Matrix numbers like Monarch:
See for example guidelines 4.7.2.:
"For other companies on the release, leave the catalog number field blank, unless there is a sequential identifying number that relates directly to the company."
http://www.discogs.com/help/database/submission-guidelines-release-label-catalog#4.7.2

Slightly revised one year ago by nik:
http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/356624#3352536

Relevant forum discussion:
Pressing plant matrix numbers: OK to use in the LCCN fields?
http://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/521518a59469733cfcfb7063#521518a59469733cfcfb6fe2

Lyntone becomes Lyntone Recordings Ltd.
http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/345856

Technicolor sequential numbers.
http://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/52511fd3aba9e87014f2204b

url example:
More information can be found here.

The pressing would have been after late 1967, as it was at that time that the "H" Scully lathe in Hollywood was retro-converted to cut in stereo (prior to then it was mono). Hollywood and New York, as noted in many threads, had different codes - two per lathe in use then:
Hollywood: Mono - F/G, H/J (pre-1967); Stereo - A/B, H (after 1967)/J (after 1969) [NOTE: In 1968, J was used for lacquers for The Beatles' "White Album" that were apparently cut at the Sound Recorders Studio where George Harrison supervised the cuttings]
New York: Mono - P/T; Stereo - W/X

45rpm's in the 50's
Lacquers with 'N' within matrix numbers (i.e. 45-14643-N2) cut in New York, while those with 'D' (such as 45-14658-D4) were cut in Hollywood.

Double A sided singles:
We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper (3rd December 1965)
Eleanor Rigby/ Yellow Submarine (5th August 1966)
Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane (17th February 1967)
Come Together/Something (31st October 1969 - US release was the 6th October 1969)

All Capitol/Apple cassettes featured paper labels until after the release of the Concert For Bangla Desh. From about that time onward, the cassette shells were tan or white, and the Capitol/Apple logo appeared directly on the cassette shell. Like the eight track, the cassette carried a warranty until 1975. For a time in 1977, paper labels were used again, sparsely, but these do not resemble the originals. The round "C" logo appears on cassettes until 1977, being replaced by the dome logo afterward. From 1986 onward, the cassette shells have been clear, rather than white or tan.

Flashback Records was started in 1964, a subsidiary of Bell Records.
The label was used for reissues of material from Bell, Mala and Amy.
When Bell merged into Arista Records in 1974, Flashback went with it.
The big "ARISTA" logo was added in 1982 (or 1984 (45sleeves)) on the left hand side of the label,
making it is easy to tell these records apart from the earlier Bell versions.

WEA Manufacturing Inc. Information
Cinram, Olyphant, PA
Glass Mastered At: A mastering SID code of "ifpi L90#" WITHOUT a "wea mfg. Olyphant" logo in the mirror ring of the CD indicates the disc was glass mastered at this plant.
Pressed By: A mould SID code of IFPI 2U** indicate a CD has been pressed at this plant.

WEA Mfg. Commerce
Some CDs show the WEA Mfg. Olyphant logo in the matrix area but also have "wea mfg./CA" stamped on the hub/clamping ring. They should be credited like this:
Glass Mastered At - WEA Mfg. Olyphant
Pressed By - WEA Mfg. Commerce

Wea Mfg. Commerce pressing credits will always contain a Mould SID Code of IFPI 2V**. They may often be credited on releases with a 'wea mfg. Commerce', 'wea mfg. CA' or 'wea CA' in the CD matrix or stamped on the clear plastic hub.

Earliest 1st generation DADC pressing. No zero before DIDP #####, and no 'circle/triangle' logo on disc. Pressed sometime between September 1984, when U.S. DADC CD manufacturing plant started making CD's, and sometime in 1985, when the 'circle/triangle' symbol began to appear.

1st generation DADC pressing. No zero before DIDP 20009, and contains 'circle/triangle' logo on disc.

Resources:

http://barbra-archives.com/record/singles/man_parade-halloffame.html
Undocumented Guideline WIki

Lp Cover Restoration Tips
Unicode table
Unicode Character Strikethrough Generator
Common Runout Groove Etchings, Version 7
Discogs Text Formatting
CVINYL label art guide
Guide to dating Columbia labels from London Jazz Collector
W.B.'s guide to Sixties Columbia label dating
Guide to dating Blue Note labels from London Jazz Collector
General guide to Capitol and Apple label configs + dating, and Beatles in specific
Canadian Capitol pressings, and Capitol prefix decoding
Columbia Recording Studios Master Number Decoder
Anorak's Pressing Plant & Dating Info
About RCA Tan-label Pressings
Complete guide to RCA Lp label datiing
The Blue Note Labelography
Explanation of E A S T emboss on WEA labels
PolyGram US Plant Codes
BMI Repertoire Search Tool
ASCAP Repertory Search
SOCAN Repertory Search
VInylHunt
Cosimo Matassa story
Runout Etch Visual Sigs from First Press Records
A&M Label Plant Codes: A&M Records
The UK Recording Studios Resource
US Record Pressing Plant List - useful!
Steely Dan "Aja" original pressing info
Takoma Label Dating Guide
Nik says don't put "first pressing" into FTF
Don't Forget The Motor City - complete Motown songwriter's index
RecordCorrectErrors
Global Dog Productions Discographies
Frank Daniels "Across The Universe" Beatles page
The Beatles Bible
The Secret Society Of Lathe Trolls
The U.S. Copyright Catalog Search (1978-Present)
Discogs Master List of Recording Studios
Excellent list of indie Carolina Soul & Funk artists: http://www.carolinasoul.org/site/
Capitol Custom Master Number Decoder
RCA Victor Master Serial Number Decoder
CD Manuafacturing Companies By Index
Elektra Records Master Discograpy
Warner Bros. Loss Leaders Info Page
Tim Neely on Columbia Lp prefix meanings and dates
CTI Records Discography
Guide to Pressing Ring measurements
History of Specialty and Allied Records pressing plants

Staff Decisions and How-Tos:
• RSG §4.7.6 on adding individual disc catalog numbers other than the main cat. # to submissions
• nik says to use Supervised By for production assistant - https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/204402#2546435
• Staff opinion regarding Choosing Master Record Key Releases
• Listing Polydor Int'l #s on US Releases: Here and here
• nik says you have three months to challenge an image hijack
• Don't put extra characters into Runout fields to distinguish betwwen etched and stamped portions.
• Parentheses are not a part of the Matrix number.
• Don't use small-caps or cursive alphabet Unicode in BaOI fields.
• Runout variants must be entered in sets.

It is perfectly acceptable to enter Pressing Plant info in the Free Text Field. Staff opinions from Nik and Diognes:
• https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/410402#3798325
• https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/368277?page=1#3417497
• https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/368277?page=1#6987372
Diognes explains how to do it right (January, 2018): https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/368277?page=2#7523520

Diognes endorses single-line Lp runout entries in the Forum discussion starting here and ending here, and also in the discussion beginning here and ending here.
Oh, and Here.

How to deal with Corporate legal ending differences...

On explaining stamped vs. etched portions of runouts in BaOI descriptionfields, Diognes_The_Fox says in this Forum thread:
"If there is a good reason for differentiation, it might be a good place to expand that information out in the release notes rather than trying to come up with some system to force it into the matrix area. I have had some instances where knowing about stamped/etched differences was useful, but those are pretty extreme cases."

Pressing Plant Identifiers for 45s:

∆000000 / Styrene / (MR), MO, 24 = Monarch Mfg. Co. CA
∆000000 / ELA-∆ = Electrosound Mfg. Co. CA
∆00000 / Vinyl / (λc), (aLc) = Alco Mfg & Research Co. CA
5, 10, 15, 25, 45, 125, 0000 on label = Southern Products TN
ⓤ, Ⓤ, UR-00000 = United Record Pressing TN
X-0000, K-00000, R-00000 (1976-1990s), AR, ɑ, Ɑ, 22 / Styrene = Allied Record Company CA
E-0000 = Allied Record Co. Mfg. CA (1950s-1962)
R-00000 / Vinyl = Rainbo Records CA
ARP, AM = American Record Pressing MI
PP, PL = Plastic Products TN
B, BW, BEST, Bestway, ♤,19 = Bestway Products NY
(Ƨ), X / Thick Styrene = Shelley Products NY
E, KE Keel = Keel Mfg. Co. NY
(EDP), EUROPADISC DMM NY, 40000 = Europadisk
NY
S-0000, SO, SOL, SON, 16 = Sonic Recording Pro.
NY
S-0000 (1975-1981) GO, GOL, 16 = Goldisc Recording Co. NY
SRC, SP, 49 = Specialty Records Co. PA
⌂ (1973-1978) North America Music Industry PA
.OƆ .I.Ƨ.M (Underneath Label) = MSI. CO PA
Pressing ring = Allentown Records Co. PA
TVC, TVCA = Superior Pressing Plant. NJ

Lesser known Pressing Plants
ᐉ, ⟷, 53, Hauppauge Record Mfg. NY
OV-000-1,2 = Oneida Video-Audio Tape Co. NY
SMK, SMI, 60 = Sound Makers NJ
RI, RI-00000 = Recording Incorporated. MD
ARCHER, NSC ARP, 95, 00000 = Archer Record Co. MI
75, 86, 88, 127? = Musical Products IL
SS, SS-30000 = Stereo Sound. IL
MW, MR, MW-0000 = Midwest Record Inc. IL
WWR-000-000 = World Wide Records, Inc. TN
PRP 0000, 161 = Precision Record Pressing. TN
SoN 0000 = The Sound Of Nashville. TN
6300000 = Globe Nashville. TN
AMP-00000 = Atwell Record Pressing, Inc TN
DRP-0000, Dixie, 225 = Dixie Record Pressing Co. TN
RITE, RR-000000 = Rite Record Pro., Inc. OH
QCA, 000000 = QCA Custom Mfg. OH
Br, B-0000 = Boddie Mfg. Co. OH
20-0000 = Gotta Groove Records. OH
KB 00000, 4-,5-,6-,7-,8-0000 = Kaybank Recording Corp. MN
L-000000 = Houston Records TX
57X, 75X & Up, 800X00 = A+R Record Mfg. Co. TX
VP00-0000 = Ville Platte Record Mfg. Co. LA
[tulip], SJW, 00000 = Wakefield Mfg. AZ
GRT, 75 1.125 press ring, "muffin"style = GRT Recording Co., CA
00000.(1),(2),(3) = Record Technology Inc. CA
FPV40000 = Century Record Mfg. Co. CA
Ⓕ = Fidelatone Mfg. CA

Mastering IDs:
LW = Longwear Processing. NY
F/W = Frankford/Wayne Recording Mfg. PA
L-000000 = Greg Lee Processing. CA
SLM ∆00000 = Sheffield Lab Matrix. CA
<E> = Charles Eckhart Company. CA
MASTERED BY CAPITOL = Capitol Mastering. CA
Az = Allen Zentz Mastering
United = United. CA
▭◯▭ = Sonic Arts. CA
[TLC] = The Lacquer Channel. CA
Masterfonics = Masterfonics. TN
NR0000 = Nashville Record Prod. TN
M HC = MasterCraft. TN
-ARDENT- = Ardent Mastering. TN
RANDYS ROOST, RR = Randy's Roost. TN
DMI = Disc Mastering, Inc. TN
WSS, Woodland = Woodland Studios. TN
RFM = Rare Form Mastering. OH
TM-0000 = Ter-Mar Mastering. IL
Sheldon = Sheldon. IL

Columbia Pressing Plants:
P, p, 56 = Pitman Pressing Co. NJ
SSSSSS, SIIIII, 25 = Santa Maria Pressing Co. CA
TIIIIIII, 73 = Terre Haute Pressing Co. IN
G1, 57 = Carrollton Pressing Co. GA
HHH / Styrene = Hollywood Pressing co. CA
B, CLB = Bridgeport Pressing Co. CT

Capitol Pressing Plants:
☆ ✲ = Los Angeles Pressing Plant CA
⌂ IAM = Scranton Pressing Plant PA
0 o = Jacksonville Pressing Plant GA
: · ─◁= Winchester Pressing Plant VA

MCA/DECCA Pressing Plants:
⧈-G-⧈, ✤ = Gloversville Pressing Plant NY
◈-P-◈, ◆= Pinckneyville Pressing Plant IL

PRC / Mercury Pressing Plants:
MR (without circle/1950s-1969) = Mercury IN
RR = Richmond Recording Co. IN
PR / Styrene (1970-1972) = Philips Records IN
PR, 18 / Styrene - Presswell NY
PRC, PRCR, 72 = PRC Recording Co. Richmond, IN
PRC-C, PW, CMP1, 26 = PRC, Recording Co. Compton, CA

RCA Pressing Plants:
I, 1 = Indianapolis Pressing Plant IN
R / Thin Vinyl = Rockaway Pressing Plant NJ
H / Thick Vinyl = Hollywood Pressing Plant CA