Subject:	Factory Numbers
Posted by:	screentest75 on 5/7/08 8:10 AM
Can someone please tell me what the factory numbers are for L.A., Scranton etc... found on the back of Capitol albums. Thanks.
[Posted by namralos on 5/7/08 8:25 AM] The numbers on the backs of covers actually stand for the companies that printed the covers. These covers were usually shipped to the Capitol factory that was closest to where they were printed. A more complete listing (with approximate times of use) is found in the price guide. The numbers below are the ones that are most commonly found: 2, 3 = Scranton, PA 4, 9, 16 = Jacksonville, IL 5, 6, 18 = Los Angeles, CA 12, 21 = Winchester, VA Frank Daniels
[Posted by screentest75 on 5/7/08 10:12 AM] Great! Thanks Frank.
[Posted by j9th9 on 5/7/08 4:43 PM] different pressing facilities used different symbols in the dead wax to identify themselves. do we collectors want or put a premium on records and jackets that provide symbols and numbers consistent with each other? wouldn't or shouldn't this enhance the value of a record/jacket pairing?
[Posted by DaveHaber on 5/7/08 4:47 PM] You'd think so. Frank can tell you more, but the jackets printed by certain printers only MOST OF THE TIME went to the closest pressing plant. They could have gone to others if there was a special need. That means that the number on the jacket is NOT ALWAYS an indication of where the record in it was pressed. Besides, records and jackets are usually priced seperately, because there are different grading criteria for each. I don't think there are any collectors who are adverse to putting a nice disc with a nice cover from a different disc, as long as they match up as the originals would have. So, having the two together does not necessarily add to the value. Unless they're originally factory sealed, of course.
[Posted by namralos on 5/8/08 12:41 AM] Far too many dealers and collectors switch covers around. Some of them say that they want to put their "best" record with their "best" cover. However, for those of us in the know, obvious mismatches are never a good thing. A cover from the 1970's with a record from the 1960's -- a bad goof. Matching proper covers to records is not 100% foolproof, BUT in the Guide we do mention what label styles are USUALLY found with what covers. This can also be helpful if you're looking for sealed copies. There one has to watch out for RE-seals, but if the seal job is original, you have a good idea of what to expect. You get anomalies there, too. On eBay recently, someone sold a sealed Capitol reissue of the Hard Day's Night album (1979-1987) for over $200. That same sellers sold a bunch of late reissues for HIGH prices. Maybe someone was planning to stiff the seller! On the other hand, a sealed Winchester ("12") copy from the early 1970's sold for $35. Since that copy didn't have the Gold Record Award on the front cover, it's probably a green label copy. $35 is a good price. Frank Daniels