BIG TIME: Vintage 1980's Columbia / CBS pressing plant video

Post: # 9064Unread post **blacknwhite** Sun May 30, 2010 8:46 pm

BIG TIME: Vintage early-1980's Columbia / CBS pressing plant video, from the HEIGHT of vinyl production:

Images below are from a publicity pamphlet Columbia made at the same time, with photos of what looks like the same equipment at the same plant.

*SIGH* look at how big the vinyl record biz used to be.... it'll probably Never be that big again, but we can still TRY...

I put a comment below the video, with the timestamp 4:42 ; click on the timestamp in the comment to jump to the factory tour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hPkmgWlYps

- Bob

Post: # 9065Unread post **cymbalism** Sun May 30, 2010 9:12 pm

joe dirt worked at cbs? check it out at 5:45

Post: # 9066Unread post **blacknwhite** Sun May 30, 2010 9:16 pm

cymbalism wrote:joe dirt worked at cbs? check it out at 5:45

Haaaaa! You WON the Bonus Round!

Post: # 9072Unread post **Aussie0zborn** Mon May 31, 2010 6:21 am

Good find, Bob. Hamilton manual presses with CBS automation. Same machines were used by CBS in Australia.

Check out the speed of those presses. The record is removed and a new biscuit with label is inserted without delay, ready for pressing the next record. I seem to remember CBS Australia had a cycle time of about 23 seconds for 12" pressings.

Nice silvering machine.

Post: # 9077Unread post **emorritt** Mon May 31, 2010 11:12 am

Am I mistaken or is that a "CyberScully"?!?! Looks like the control unit of a Cybersonic machine with Scully upper works. Was the Cybersonic pitch controller maybe the reason for the 'hybrid' machine?

Post: # 9089Unread post **Aussie0zborn** Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:24 am

CBS made the "DisComputer" for pitch/depth control of Scully lathes. I;d say this is what we see here.

Post: # 9093Unread post **subkontrabob** Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:45 am

Aussie0zborn wrote:CBS made the "DisComputer" for pitch/depth control of Scully lathes. I;d say this is what we see here.

Didier from Helsinki has one! It looks very similar to the machine in the video. He told me he had a lot of trouble repairing the power supply and getting spare parts.

Post: # 9095Unread post **subkontrabob** Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:54 am

forgot to say that I enjoyed the video very much! The explanation of mechanical and electric recording principles in the beginning is probably the best and most comprehensive I have heard yet.

And I love the word WIGGLE

Post: # 9096Unread post **emorritt** Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:00 pm

The general appearance of the control panel is very similar to a Cybersonic machine. Anyone know who made the Cyber machines? The Cybersonic cutting lathe mechanism has a sort of "Neumannesque" appearance to it but I doubt Neumann would have made a 'B-stock' machine like the Cybersonic. From what I've heard they weren't the greatest machines.

Post: # 9104Unread post **Aussie0zborn** Wed Jun 02, 2010 6:09 am

Flozki's website describes the Cybersonic as a "shitty lathe" made in California, USA.

Does anybody actually have one?

Post: # 16315Unread post **philbrown** Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:38 pm

Aussie0zborn wrote:Flozki's website describes the Cybersonic as a "shitty lathe" made in California, USA.

Does anybody actually have one?

We had one demonstrated at Warners. It was made to be used with the Ortofon head. Nuff. said. Futuredisc was the only place I knew who used them.
Phil Brown