[78-L] Late-pressed 78rpm records - since about 1970

[Bryan Wright]

Thanks, Cary and Ron, for the encouraging words about my Bix 78 set.  
The pressings were done by Record Industry in the Netherlands. I went  
to them because in my opinion, they are one of the few plants in the  
world still turning out premium audiophile-grade pressings. (And they  
were one of the few willing to master a 78rpm record. Most other  
plants laughed me off when I proposed the idea.) Record Industry is a  
bit more expensive than most; in fact, the actual cost of producing  
the 2-record set is scarcely below what I'm selling them for. My  
profit margin is about $2 to $3 per set. These days, 10-inch pressings  
are more expensive to make than 7-inch or 12-inch (probably because  
they have the least demand), and special packaging for two 10-inch  
records (printed sleeves and jackets) is also more expensive than any  
other size. 10-inch gatefold jackets are outrageous. Even to get a  
"wide-spine" single pocket jacket that would accommodate two records  
cost about $800 more than standard single-disc jacket -- just to get  
that extra 2mm! I'm sorry that the price for the records is as high as  
it is, but it reflects the high cost of producing such specialty vinyl  
these days.

Incidentally, I do have another Rivermont 78 in the works...not my own  
playing this time, but a single disc of a fantastic jazz band recorded  
just last month. I'll of course post a notice here when it's ready.

Bryan W.