2006.19.6

Victor Hydraulic Record Press

Victor Hydraulic Record Press; heavy steel base with floor mounting holes, tapers up to round support base for the ram; cast in base, "MA352-26"; pipe fitting extends downward from the main support; four(4) 2.375" diameter steel posts extend up out of main support; top plate is hinged to the rear two posts, slots in the plate fit over the two front posts and are locked by a sliding bar; the bottom plate rests on the main support, held down by two heavy springs; guides in the sides of the bottom plate would allow it two slide up the posts to close the press when the ram is activated; note the 15" top and bottom dies are not present; painted aqua-blue with evidence of formers coats of rotal blue and yellow; posts and inner surfaces are unpainted.

H-54.75 W-25 D-28 inches

ca. 1937

Victor

APH Collection

One of the first four record presses purchased for APH in 1936-37. It has been heavily rebuilt through the years. The first recordings at APH were issued in 1937. Hard vinyl record production was discontinued in 1987. Two record molds/dies were fitted with stamper discs impressed with the grooves of the recording. The operator sandwiched a biscuit--a heat-softened, rectangular block of vinylite--between two record labels in the press. The top of the press was lowered and locked. A blast of steam followed by cold water was forced through channels behind the stampers. The heat forced the vinylite to flow into the mold, the cold water hardened it instantly.

APH Collection