RCA Records Pressing Plant, Hollywood

American west coast pressing plant. Opened in 1928, RCA Hollywood occupied a full city block and included pressing, assembly, manufacturing and distribution offices plus several recording studios. Recording here ceased around 1947, but the pressing and distribution hub operated until 1976, when the plant burned to the ground. Identification: - "H" stamp in runouts. (Do not confuse with etched "H" from Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Hollywood.) - 2.75" (70mm) "deep groove" pressing ring through 1970; 1" (25mm) ring 1970 - 1976. Note: After this plant's closure, Motown titles mastered and pressed in Hollywood had stampers shipped to Superior Record Pressing Corp., Somerdale, NJ, and Superior Record Pressing Corp., Tempe, Arizona, for repressing; these can be identified by the struck-through "H" stamp and dual-plane pressing rings. Use "Mastered At" LCCN credit in these cases. General RCA mastering information: The first alpha in runouts (for all plants) indicates year of mastering (between 1960 and 1977): L=60, M=61, N=62, P=63, R=64, S=65, T=66, U=67, W=68, X=69, Z=70, A=71, B=72, C=73, D=74, E=75, F=76, G=77. The 2nd alpha indicates size/speed: K=7" 45, L=7" 33⅓, P=10" 33⅓, R=12" 33⅓. "4" indicates lacquer cut from tape supplied, and "5" indicates lacquer supplied to RCA. Either of these digits in front of the 2nd alpha = January to June and behind the alpha = July to December of the year indicator. The 4th alpha indicates whether a record is mono ("M"), stereo ("S"), or even quadraphonic ("T"). (e.g., "R4KM" prefix would be a 7" 45, cut between January and June 1964 from tape supplied.) For more information, see RCA Victor Master Serial Number Codes - 1942-1980s. Known to have pressed for: Cadence Records, Inc. - 'H' was Cadence's code for lacquers to go to RCA Hollywood (e.g., [r4378429]). Capitol Records - "RCA" etch with metalwork supplied by Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles (e.g., [r705848]). Mercury (e.g., Salisbury). Tamla - with lacquer from Kendun Recorders (e.g., [r6269334]). Fantasy (e.g., [r680968]). Prestige (e.g., Child's Dance). 78RPM pressing identification: To identify 78RPM discs that were pressed at the Hollywood facility between Fall 1937 and early 1954, note the following label details: Victor Scroll labels and Bluebird Buff labels citing "RCA Manufacturing Co., Inc.," at bottom: A small capital "H" in the scroll work at the top of the label or, in the case of Bluebird issues, an "H" at the top of the blue ring around the margin = Hollywood pressing (e.g., Victor 24892 and Bluebird (3) B-6943). Victor and Bluebird Ring labels citing "RCA Manufacturing Co., Inc.," at bottom: Two equally long concentric label arcs broken at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock = Hollywood pressing. Victor, RCA Victor and Bluebird Ring labels citing "RCA Victor Division of Radio Corporation of America" at bottom: Two concentric circles, broken at top and nearly touching small RCA circle = Hollywood pressing.