Orlake Records were established in 1963 and ran until their close in 2007. They were created by Movitex Plastics Ltd, and operated out of Dagenham in Essex. After a series of strikes in the late 1970s, the company went into receivership - a similar position to administration - and they were sold to Forward Technology in 1980, which is when they began to gain their reputation as 'the pressing plant who pressed anything'.
What Do We Mean By Anything?
The 1980s were a prime time for record pressings, and while most records were still being pressed on black vinyl, there was demand for more unique pressings. This is where Orlake Records came in. While most record companies were less inclined to press on coloured vinyl, Orlake started pressing them in abundance. They took this a step further, using machines to press picture discs, cut shaped discs, and even using a lesser-used 'sandwiching technique' which involved sticking together two one-sided clear discs, with artwork in between. At their time of closure in 2007, they were the only pressing plant in the UK who offered the full range of pressing options, from generic 12", 10" and 7", through to the picture and shaped discs.
How Big Was The Business?
Orlake Records operated a state of the art plant. They had six automatic presses, twenty four semi-automatic presses, and five manual presses, all made by Alpha Toolex, which allowed them to produce one million records per month.
They also had their own plating department, which was housed in a separate building, which operated with Europafilm equipment - a Swedish film company who leant their hand to the electroforming process involved in record manufacture. Both the Alpha Toolex and Europafilm companies are considered to be the best engineering equipment in their respective areas.
How Can You Identify An Orlake Press?
The key to identifying an Orlake pressing is in the matrix details - the etchings in the dead wax between the end of the tracks and the label of the record - or spindle hole in the case of a picture disc.
Lots of Orlake pressings are easily identifiable, as they have 'Orlake' etched in the matrix, but there are also more subtle signs.
While most pressing plants favoured dashes in their matrix numbers, Orlake favoured plus signs.
What Other Identifiers Can They Have?
Because Orlake Records often pressed for other companies, their distinguishing features can also sometimes be found on other records, not officially titled as an Orlake press. These include a set of pressing rings, one smaller, deeper ring, and one wider ring nearer the edge of the record label. This can be clearly seen below on Sparks' 'Kimono In My House'.
Are Orlake Pressings Valuable?
Because Orlake pressed many picture and shaped discs, along with coloured vinyl, their pressings naturally hold more intrigue due to their more unique quality. Picture discs can be very valuable, especially if they are in good condition, as they are not only playable, but also a collectors display item.
