| Collection |
APH Collection |
| Credit line |
APH Collection |
| Date |
ca. 1937 |
| Description |
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. |
| Dimensions |
H-54.75 W-25 D-28 inches |
| Made |
Victor |
| Material |
Steel; |
| Object ID |
2006.19.6 |
| Object Name |
Press, Record |
| Provenance/History |
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. |
| Subjects |
Presses
Sound recording and reproducing
Talking books |
| Title |
Victor Hydraulic Record Press |
| Used |
American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY |
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