"Columbia" pressing plant, established in February 1930 and owned by the local EMI subsidiary; located in Rizoupoli, Athens, Greece. Ceased operations on 30 April 1991.
10 manual presses for 78 rpm records were installed in November 1930, and from late 1950s/early 1960s, the pressing plant had 14 automatic presses, most of them for 7" (45 rpm) records. They were equally split for 7" (45 rpm) and LPs (33 1/3 rpm) after the mid-1960s. The last 78 rpm press was dismantled in 1962.
The cassette department included three production units: one with 8-12 compact cassette duplicators, one with 3 8-track cartridge duplicators (reduced to 2 by the end of 1979) and one with 2 atomatic labelling machines (replaced later by a printing machine). 65% to 70% of cassette production concerned Arabic repertoire.
The first 10" shellac record (78 rpm) was pressed in late November/early December or on December 20, 1930 (Μιχάλης Θωμάκος: "Μαρούσκα"/"Λωτός", Columbia DG 1 -DG standing for Disk Greek- image). Shellacs were pressed until 1959-1960.
The first "extended play" 7" vinyl record was pressed on July 16th, 1955 (Ο Βαφτιστικός).
The first "standard" 7" vinyl record was pressed on January 27th, 1958 (Η Γερακίνα / Νησιώτισσα); the last one in 1980.
The first vinyl LP record was pressed in early February 1961 (Πάμε Βόρεια).
The first vinyl LP record on the Πασχαλιές Μέσα Από Τη Νεκρή Γη).
The first recorded compact cassette was manufactured on 8 December 1970 (Μαζί Με Τον Γρηγόρη, the cassette version -TCSCXG 64- not yet listed).
The first recorded 8-track cartridge was manufactured on 22 February 1971 (Μαζί Με Τον Στράτο, the 8-track version -8XSCXG 63- not yet listed).
Until 1967, Columbia was the only manufacturing plant that pressed 7" vinyl records in Greece.
The last ever vinyl record was pressed on 30 April 1991. It was a compilation LP, titled Columbia 1929 - 1991 (no cat#, side A Columbia, side B HMV), compiled by Δαμιανός Σερέφογλου; it was pressed in 117 copies (as many as the pressing plant workers) and distributed to them, then the lacquer was destroyed.
12"-sized records between 1970-1991 / MT & A/A prefixes:
- Starting in 1970, a sequence of numbers was used, each number corresponding to the specific master tape (and the respective stamper) used for a vinyl LP pressed at the factory. In the 1980's these numbers were used for 12" singles / maxi singles as well. These numbers usually appear twice, with prefix A/A and MT: with the prefix A/A (e.g. Α/Α 12164) they are usually located on the labels; with prefix MT they are usually located on the sleeve (e.g. ΜΤ 12164). (The same number, usually without prefix, appears also in the respective cassette & 8-track versions, duplicated in the same factory).
(Note 1: The Master Tape number may appear without the MT prefix, see Β2 example below.)
(Note 2: In late 1980's-early 1990's, the Master Tape number appeared on some releases on the labels, see B3 example below.)
- Although this sequence was internally adopted in 1970, ΜΤ-A/A numbers started to appear on labels and sleeves at about 1973-74. (For example, the 1st issue of In Rock, carries "MT 87" for the first time. All later reissues carry this number as well, throughout the 1980's.)
- MT-A/A numbers are a considerably safe indication of the release year for any Greek LP or 12" release pressed by Columbia, Athens, valid only for the 1st pressing of a release, provided it came out after 1970. For represses/reissues, date is usually not found on the release itself, but a helpful guide is the record company specifics (see EMIAL S.A. profiles for more).
- On LP releases originally released in the 1960's, MT-A/A numbers were appointed later, after the respective master tape was archived (and possibly remastered) for further (post-1970) reissues. (For example, Τσιτσάνης).
Most records pressed by Columbia, Athens pressing plant were made / manufactured (enter under the respective credit role) by one of the following Greek EMI entities:
EMI Greece S.A.
A. Add to LCCN:
Pressed By: the sequential A/A or MT number, without the prefix (e.g. 12164)
* Double LPs will feature two such numbers, one for each record. Please enter two credits in this case, three for 3LP sets etc.
Example: Ζεστά Ποτά
B. Add to BaOI:
Other:
B1. A/A #### or #### on labels and MT ### on cover: the A/A+number(s) or number(s), and/or the MT+number(s) along with any additional information, e.g. where it is found on the release artwork, which number corresponds to Record 1 or Record 2 (for double LPs) etc.
* Usually A/A and MT are followed by the same number.
Example without A/A
B2. A/A #### on labels and #### on cover: the A/A+number(s), and/or the number(s) along with any additional information, e.g. where it is found on the release artwork, which number corresponds to Record 1 or Record 2 (for double LPs) etc.
* Usually the two numbers are the same.
Example
B3. MT #### on labels and/or on cover: the MT+number(s) along with any additional information, e.g. which number corresponds to Record 1 or Record 2 (for double LPs) etc.
Example (on labels & cover)
* Prefix definitions:
A/A: "Αύξοντας Aριθμος" (= ascending number)
MT: "Master Tape"
