Abbey Record Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Defunct American pressing plant originally located in East Newark, New Jersey, founded 1948. Known to be active at least as of June 13, 1970. A division of National Aircraft Corporation (circa 1960); a division of Dofronics, Inc. (circa 1962).

Pressed for labels such as: Elektra, American Recording Society, Music Treasures Of The World, Prestige, United Artists Records, Audio Fidelity, Colpix Records, Riverside Records, Russian Roulette, Westminster, Vanguard, etc.

Identification
Vinyl pressed by this plant can usually be identified by a 2.75" pressing ring and the letters "AB" or "(A)" etched in runouts, often accompanied by a date.

However, from 1955-1963, many pressings will have a 68-72mm deep groove pressing ring with an additional 21mm inner ring on the B side. Often times the etched date will be present without the "AB" or the "A."

History
Abbey Record Manufacturing Co. was begun in 1948 by Norman B. Jacobowitz (chief engineer) as principal, with associates Jascha Zayde and [?] Brody. Horace Grenell purchased the Zayde and Brody interests in 1953, and became an equal partner with Jacobowitz in 1954. David A. Foxman became an equal partner with Jacobowitz and Grenell by 1956. Before 1954, Abbey manufactured primarily 10-inch 78s on contract for various companies. Early in 1954, Abbey began manufacturing 12-inch LPs.

The partnership of Jacobowitz, Foxman and Grenell also operated Sound Plastics, Inc., which manufactured the vinyl "biscuits" for making records. In 1958, the partnership broke up, with Jacobowitz leaving Abbey and retaining Sound Plastics; Foxman and Grenell retained Abbey. Jacobowitz later purchased B & C Recording (John Bubbers and Walter Colquitt, Jr.).

Circa 1962, the plant moved to Kearny, New Jersey, and offered full-service manufacturing, with editing and mastering services at its New York studio, complete album jacket fabrication, warehousing and drop-shipping.