RARE AND UNIQUE BEATLES CAPITOL GOLD VINVL 45 EXPERIMENTAL PROCESS TEST PRESSING

$

3,750

See photos below. RARE BEATLES EXPERIMENTAL PROCESS TEST PRESSING 7" 45. See photo. Capitol Records 45 RPM Gold/Orange Vinyl Experimental Process Test Pressing. Label number S7-18899-A: "Got To Get You Into My Life". Label number S7-18899-B: "Helter Skelter". Vinyl flash still attached to perimeter of record. The 45 hole has not been punched.

This pressing is essentially the same as the other process test pressings I have offered with one HUGE difference. See the explanation below for the general rundown on the make up of a process test pressing. Here is the difference. In the case of this experimental pressing, first a 45 label for one side of the record was placed face down on the bottom pressing die. Then a half squirt application of the gold/orange vinyl was extruded, then a plain white unmarked label was placed on this half squirt of vinyl and the second half squirt of molten vinyl was applied and topped with the face up label for the other side of the record. Then the pressing dies were squeezed together and the resulting process test control 45 was pressed and could be removed to examine for even pressure distribution of the dies throughout the entirety of the face of the record. As you can see from this rare example, the dies left an area with no white label dismembered and distributed within the layers of the gold vinyl. Hence the pressing dies were not totally square and parallel with each other and the pressing pressure was uneven. I had two examples of this in the collection that I purchased and sold the lesser of the two here on eBay a year or so ago. I saved this one for myself but now am no longer as attached to it and am going to let it find a new home with a true and steadfast collector. This is indeed a rare and precious piece of Beatles memorabilia.

The story in a nutshell on record production process test pressings is as follows:

Normally a half dozen to several dozen process test pressings of any particular record are run to assure proper vinyl distribution, label placement, vinyl thickness, groove integrity and various other process concerns.

At the point that all the critical process criteria are met, the test pressings are then ground up and recycled back into the system for reuse in pressing more records.

This test pressing is one of an entire collection I purchased from a retired quality control inspector who worked for CBS Records and their various affiliates. For over 20 years he managed to squander away the occasional test pressing and this is one that was rescued from the grinders.

This type of test pressing is extremely rare and I believe the collection I purchased is unique and no other similar pressings exist anywhere, period.

These test pressings probably cannot be played on standard phonograph players due to the sometimes heavy roll of flash vinyl attached around their perimeter. They also tend to be slightly warped as they were removed from the process before they were properly cooled and often the labels are incorrectly placed and the 45 holes not punched. The grooves tend to have noticeable scratches due to the fact that the pressings were removed from the manufacturing process and tossed into waste recycle containers.

Now I know that there are those of you out there that would love to argue the terminology of "test pressing". That is fine and I understand completely. It is generally accepted that test pressings have a label that denotes "test pressing" on it and that is what the majority of you are familiar with. Be assured that this record is, by it's very nature, also a true "test pressing". A rose by any other name would still smell like a rose, and so forth. My acquisition also included a number of "test pressings" of the variety that has the "test pressing" notation denoted on the label (the type you are all familiar with). These of course were manufactured to be submitted for approval for content and audio quality prior to large scale manufacturing for distribution. Since I am (in all probability) the sole holder of any quantity of these process test pressings, I am going to suggest that there are two categories, process test pressings and approval test pressings. If this offends anyone, sorry.

If you are a fan of this artist (or group) you can be assured that you will have a unique collectible to highlight your collection of memorabilia. Test pressings are incredible to frame and hang on your wall and they make a fascinating conversation piece. See my eBay store and my other auctions for more of these unique test pressing collectibles and other great mint 45's. See other auctions by seller for more hard to find items and great music industry items. See sellers eBay store MUSIC ROW MANIA.

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