Bad news for Vinyl fans...Apollo/Transco burnt to the ground

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/major-vinyl-production-catastrophe-apollotransco-lacquers-burns

One of 2 in the world. We now have to rely on Japan for laquer and this may affect vinyl prices moving forward. No word yet on whether they can rebuild under California's strict environmental laws.

Tom

~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~

Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,673
    That is very bad news.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,078
    Horrible loss.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,673
    Maybe Acoustic Sounds or Music Direct/MoFi will get involved or buy them.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,928
    I bet that stuff is highly flammable and wouldn't take much to get out of control quick like.

    Damn shame
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,877
    F1nut wrote: »
    Maybe Acoustic Sounds or Music Direct/MoFi will get involved or buy them.
    F1nut wrote: »
    Maybe Acoustic Sounds or Music Direct/MoFi will get involved or buy them.

    It will take a big outlay of cash to get them back on their feet. I would make a crack about buying their business at a fire-sale price, but this is a real kick in the giblets for audiophiles....
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson


    How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,673
    It's seems to me it's a viable business venture.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,877
    Perhaps, but I would think the equipment to produce the lacquers will be near impossible to replace, and much will depend on what is actually left. Some of that stuff was over 80 years old, based on what I read from their history. I pray for the best, but expect the worst.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson


    How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
  • polrbehr
    polrbehr Posts: 2,842
    Hey, at least no one was injured. You might see a spike in prices and a shortage on things for awhile, but it will settle down sooner or later. It always does.
    So, are you willing to put forth a little effort or are you happy sitting in your skeptical poo pile?


    http://audiomilitia.proboards.com/
  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,731
    Wow, sad news.

    Glad nobody was hurt!

    Hopefully they can rebuild or someone else can step up and fill the void.
  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,945
    There are still a lot of unknowns. None of those questions have been answered yet, although they have been raised. It would be cool id Mo-Fi got involved to help or join in. AFAIK, this is where they sourced their lacquer (don't hold me to that, I just read it somewhere in the comments of one of the reports online).

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
  • jbreezy5
    jbreezy5 Posts: 1,141
    Perhaps, but I would think the equipment to produce the lacquers will be near impossible to replace, and much will depend on what is actually left. Some of that stuff was over 80 years old, based on what I read from their history. I pray for the best, but expect the worst.

    It’s an election year. Lets see who represents vinyl lovers. 😅
    CD Players: Sony CDP-211; Sony DVP-S9000ES; Sony UDP-X800M2 (x2); Cambridge Audio CXC

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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,928
    edited February 2020
    https://www.kansas.com/news/business/article12446567.html

    Salina Ks. plant article on how rare those machines are to find.
  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,945
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,945
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,928
    The skeptical part if me says there's more to this story. Recently laid off employees, QC slipping and maybe California environmental laws may of led up to a fire.... More than one way to "clear" the books so to speak.... Payment from an insurance company/companies icing on the cake.
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,620
    edited February 2020
    That thought crossed my mind too when I first read the LA Times article. Recently laid off employees came by to watch the place burn to the ground? Hmmmm. Must have lived in the neighborhood.

    That article did do a good job of clearly explaining what a lacquer is and why they are important for new album pressings. It is very specialized work even if it used to be common decades ago.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,673
    There was no molten vinyl. Apollo was not a pressing plant, they made the lacquers.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • delkal
    delkal Posts: 764
    It will be interesting to find out what started the fire. But I doubt we will ever know. All evidence is gone.

    Don't forget that "laquer" is nitrocellulose. A slightly higher grade is used to make all smokeless gunpowder. That doesn't mean a spark will make it explode but once it gets burning its not going out.
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,398
    Perhaps a consortium of analog companies can pool resources to try and revive this craft/process. Seems to me after reading up on the subject it;s going to be tough for a single entity to rebuild.

    What a shame

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,673
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk