Keel Record Mfg. Of Canada Limited

Canadian pressing plant. Also known as Keel Record Manufacturing, Ajax, Ontario Can be identified by an etched -K- or (K) or "K" or K in runouts. Less commonly they can also be identified by the K or k letter code printed on centre labels, with a 2.75" pressing ring. Keel was a pressing-only facility and did not have lacquering, plating or processing capabilities. If the K identifier in runouts is accompanied by an identifier of a plant that did have plating capabilities (for example Quality Records Limited or Columbia/CBS Don Mills or Monarch Record Mfg. Co.) this indicates the plating was done at that plant. Keel was established and owned by Pickwick Records Of Canada Ltd. when they started operations in Ajax in 1965 (Pickwick and Keel also initially shared the same address). Keel was originally the exclusive pressing plant for Sound Canada and Trend (8). They are also known to have pressed for Gas Records (8), London Records Of Canada (1967) Ltd., K-Tel, Tee Vee Records Inc., A&M Records Of Canada Limited, Capitol Records (Canada) Ltd. (including being the main presser for Capitol Record Club), and LaBuick Sound, Inc. (Cachet Records, British Records, etc.).. In 1976 Keel moved from its longtime Fairall address to Standard Road in Ajax and doubled its size. Shortly after the move, Keel and Precision Records took over pressing for MCA Records (Canada) after it closed its Cornwall plant. Keel ceased operations in 1978. It is assumed their plant and equipment was taken over by Impact Records Mfg. Co. Of Canada in 1979.