Jim Keysor

b. 7 May 1906, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; d. 25 May 2000, Newhall, CA. Beginning in 1950, in Burbank, California, self-taught chemical and audio engineer “Bud” Keysor founded perhaps the most vertically integrated record company in American history. Century Record Co. (aka Keysor-Century) pioneered the formulation of PVC resins specifically for the record industry including the basic black workhorse KC-B450; the innovative and hugely popular translucent red, yellow, green, and blue KC-B460/470 series and the later audiophile grade KC-600. By 1982, with added plants in Delaware City, Delaware and Ajax, Ontario, Canada, Keysor placed the in the top three American bulk resin suppliers for records alone (with Tenneco and Lenahan) and a top-twenty supplier to general industry. The company also provided bulk resin for injection molding applications (cassette shells, etc.) including its own in-house tape duplicating service. The Keysor-Century Studios, Saugus, CA, (c.1957) provided in-house and contract mastering services to the relatively new field recording industry. In 1979, the Company expanded into direct-to-disc and upscale contract mastering services with K Disc Mastering and The Great American Gramophone Company in Hollywood, CA. A conventional, turn-key manufacturing enterprise, also founded in Burbank and relocated to Saugus, served direct clients; Century Custom Recording Service “Franchised Associates” and provided contract services to “major” labels. Keysor Associates and clients such as Glen Glancy and Stan Ricker often became direct employees of the company or its subdivisions. Former Associates Mark Records and AMP Recordings are still in business today. Several of Bud Keysor's sons and daughters came to work for the company including future California State Assemblyman Jim Keysor (2) (1927-2014.) Century Record Co. ceased operations in 2005.