Century Record Mfg. Co.

Manufacturing and pressing company related to Century Records (2) and part of the Keysor Century Corp. Often appears on releases in a "manufactured by" role. Founded in Burbank, California the late 1940s; moved to Saugus, CA. in 1958, where it remained until being closed in 2003. During its lifespan, Century pressed numerous custom recordings of high-school and college orchestras and bands under its Century Custom Recording Service recording / pressing service, recordings issued under its own Century Records (4) imprint, and served as a contract presser for companies such as Liberty, Pacific Arts, Windham Hill and Flying Fish. Century also pressed hundreds of syndicated radio shows produced to promote the various branches of the U.S. military. [u]Runout Identification:[/u] • Early pressings from the 1940s-'50s contain a "V-####" or "FV-#####" catalog number and is usually identified by the legend "Manufactured by Century Record Mfg. Co." on labels and / or cover. • From the mid-'60s, runout etchings for Lps contain an "FPV" or "FP V" etch accompanied by a five-digit job number, i.e., "FPV44760-1", the "-1 / -2" suffix being identifier for the A- or B-side of the pressing. Sometimes the prefix appears as "7̶PV", the "F" represented with an old-fashioned cursive character that resembles the digit "7" with a line through the middle. [u]Pressing Ring Identification:[/u] • Through 1961: 2.75" "deep groove" pressing ring similar to contemporary RCA pressings - example • 1961 - 1969: flat label area with approx. 2.875" pressing ring - example • ca.1969 to 2003: flat label area with 1.5" pressing ring - example