In article ,
"Iain Churches" wrote:

"MiNe 109" wrote in message
...

The labels also didn't like
independent pressing plant operators for a variety of reasons: dodgy
business practices ("breakage" quotas), etc.


I can't recall ever hearing the term "breakage quota" (ever tried to
break an LP ? :-) In the UK, "rejects" (usually due to misaligned
stampers) were at a low set percentage. Any press man worth his
salt could set the stamper with accuracy, and stopped the press at
regular intervals to check the geometry.

There was talk of independent factories "selling from the back door"
but this was quickly corrected by the insistance that "run ups" (that
should have been recycled) were pressed with blank white labels,
and by keeping tight control on the number of labels and sleeves
supplied to the plant.

In the UK, independent plants turned out a high
quality product.

The "breakage" was contractual! Artists were paid for 90% of units
pressed assuming 10% loss. Whether those "broken" lps went out the back
door benefitting the pressing plant or the front door benefitting the
record label I'm not sure.

Stephen