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U.s. Matrix Info...
Topic Started: Oct 14 2014, 10:25 PM (243 Views)
eeeeeeow
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I have a lot of variants of swirl 45s with, what I believe are contract etchings or stamps. I know the "R" is for RCA's Rockaway, NJ plant (where my cousin worked at the height of Beatlemania).

For instance, I have three versions of Hello Goodbye with MacLen on both sides. None of them have the Scranton triangle stamped into the matrix. One is blank with hand written matrix numbers. One has the Rockaway RCA "R". And the other has "A2" stamped. They are all keystone labels. What does the "A2" stand for?

I even have some 45s with a "H" stamped. Those usually have West Coast labels. Can someone provide a guide to contract pressing identification?
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applehound
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Your west coast copys with the "H" on trail out are probably RCA pressings from Hollywood. There are also RCA copys with an "I", which means an Indianapolis pressing. Not sure about the A2 markings, although I see those too. Frank will probably know more!
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namralos
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Those do sound like RCA's. There are some RCA's from each factory for certain singles. There are some Decca pressings of singles; these usually have the factory indicator at the end of the matrix number (G for Gloversville, or P for Pinckneyville).

I have verified "Hello Goodbye" with Indianapolis stampers and now with Rockaway stampers. I haven't seen a Hollywood copy of HG.

The A2 is RCA's mother/stamper code.

Frank
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eeeeeeow
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Okay, above I claimed to have 3 copies of Hello Goodbye with Scranton labels that have MacLen on both sides. I actually have 5 copies all with different Matrix info re: pressings. Add to the previously mentioned, I found one with just a handwritten 2 AND...

FINALLY a Scranton factory press with the IAM triangle!!! Shocked to find it as I've been looking for awhile.

Is the 2 Decca? There are no Gs or Ps in the number.

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namralos
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LA was the factory that most frequently used numbers to indicate sub-masters (2, 3).

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eeeeeeow
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Yea. It's weird because though it's a handwritten 2, the labels are the Keystone labels. But this is the first Scranton press I've seen with the triangle.
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