English disc manufacturer.
Best known as a manufacturer of flexi-discs, due to being the European licensee of the flexi-disc process that was developed and patented by Eva-Tone Soundsheets.
Lyntone was plating (i.e. metal works) and pressing vinyl of all sizes, and very occasionally they self-released records with Lyntone as the stand alone label.
History:
Founded in 1957 (registered on 24 September 1958) by Paul S. Lynton, a former professional musician (double bass) to manufacture special records for industrial advertising and promotion.
The first product were picture discs.
In 1959, Lyntone is incorporated into the Rank Organisation's "Rank Audio Plastics Ltd".
In 1961, after Rank withdrew from record manufacturing, Lynton revives Lynton Recordings, manufacturing flexi "slimdiscs", in cooperation with label. Early Audio Plastics releases also carry a LYN number.
In 1970, the company moves from London's Regent Street to Upper Holloway, North London, and gradually starts to also process and press vinyl records.
In 1983, Lyntone acquired an adjoining site and built a new manufacturing complex.
In April 1986 the company is renamed Lyntone Audio Reproduction Ltd.
In June 1987, the plant is taken over by Damont Audio Ltd., becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary but still operating as Lyntone.
The final closure was on 31 December 1991, moving the remaining seven-inch vinyl production to Damont. A total of 28 staff were laid off.
Equipment:
In 1978 the plant operated 4 Lened automatic 12” presses, 2 Toolex Alpha manual 7” presses, and 2 Fabel manual 7” presses (later replaced by 2 Lened automatic double cavity 7” presses).
Around 1980, 2 further manual 7” presses were bought, intended for 7” pictures discs.
In 1983, the plant operated 6 Lened automatic 12” presses, 2 TTT 12” manual presses for 12” picture discs (bought from the former WEA plant), 3 Lened double cavity automatic 7” presses, 2 Toolex Alpha manual 7” presses.
In 1991, the plant operated 6 Lened 12" presses and 3 Lened 7" presses.
Lyntone operated Europa Film record plating equipment.
After the closure, a couple of presses went to Damont, another couple were sold and the rest were scrapped.
Identification:
Lyntone plates and/ or pressings can usually be identified by a pattern, consisting of an etched LYN or L, followed by 3 to 5 digits, e.g. LYN-943, LYN 2211, LYN.11095. Sometimes only the numbers are present. Add LYN or L and the numbers as they appear (e.g. LYN-1234 or LYN 1234 or L 1234) in the runouts as LCCN number but without the tailing numbers / characters (e.g. 1L, 2U, 3T, etc.).
When there are two different LYN numbers (i.e. one per side), add Pressed By (or Plated At) twice and add the respective LYN number (see here for an example). When other plants are credited in the runouts, use Plated At for Lyntone.
Between 1979 and 1991, 12"s and LPs have a double dip with ring diameters of 33 mm and 63 mm. After the plant's closure, the moulds can appear on Damont pressings.
The numeral in a circle (e.g. ①, ②, often sideways) indicates the mother / positive number.
Approximative matrix timeline (note that there can be large overlaps due to release delays):
Series - Date Range
<5xxx: 1962 - 1978
6xxx: 1978 - 1979
7xxx: 1979 - 1980
8xxx: 1980
9xxx: 1980 - 1981
10xxx: 1981 - 1982
11xxx: 1982
12xxx: 1982 - 1983
13xxx: 1983 - 1984
14xxx: 1984
15xxx: 1984 - 1985
16xxx: 1985
17xxx: 1985 - 1986
18xxx: 1986 - 1987
19xxx: 1987 - 1988
20xxx: 1988
21xxx: 1988
22xxx: 1988 - 1989
23xxx: 1989
24xxx: 1989
25xxx: 1990
26xxx: 1990
27xxx: 1990
28xxx: 1990 - 1991
29xxx: 1991 (but releases up to early 1992).
In case of releases between December and January, the (p) and (c) dates should have preference.
Note that between cut and release could be up to three months.
External lacquer studios:
The tailing number and letter (e.g. 1C, 2M) identify the studio that provided the (number of) lacquers:
C = Lacquer Cut At CBS Studios, London
E = Lacquer Cut At EMI Studios (unless specifically stated Penthouse)
M = Lacquer Cut At Master Room
P = Lacquer Cut At Portland Studios (when in combination with Porky)
S = Lacquer Cut At Spectrum Sound (2)
T = Lacquer Cut At Trident Studios
U = Lacquer Cut At Portland Studios
W = Lacquer Cut At The Music Centre, Wembley
X = Lacquer Cut At The Exchange
Y = Lacquer Cut At Pye Studios until September 1980 and Lacquer Cut At PRT Studios after September 1980
Z = Lacquer Cut At Tape One
Starting in 1978, this was extended / replaced by additional letters (after the leading number):
CBS: Lacquer Cut At CBS Studios, London
CF = Lacquer Cut At Chalk Farm Studios
CR or CRS: Lacquer Cut At County Recording Service
CTS: Lacquer Cut At CTS Studios
EMI: Lacquer Cut At EMI's EMI Studios
EX: Lacquer Cut At The Exchange
MS or MSR: Lacquer Cut At Master Room
PP = Lacquer Cut At Porky's Mastering (since 1984)
PRT: Lacquer Cut At PRT Studios
SC: Lacquer Cut At The Sound Clinic
SM: Lacquer Cut At Strawberry Mastering
TAM: Lacquer Cut At - Tam Studio
TD: Lacquer Cut At Trident Studios
TH: Lacquer Cut At The Town House
TO: Lacquer Cut At Tape One
TR: Lacquer Cut at Trident Studios
U = Lacquer Cut At Portland Studios (until 1983)
U = Lacquer Cut At Porky's Mastering (after 1983)
UT: Lacquer Cut At Utopia Studios
Note that the leading 1 may appear as I (e.g. ITO) but 1 should be used in the BAOI (e.g. 1TO)
Known plating engineers and their usual scribes:
Arthur Owen: AO
Z (2) (Alias of Francis DeSouza): ∙ Z ∙ or ∙ z ∙
Fred Hulme (2): F.H.
Gwen Mohan: (MO)
Maxwell Anandappa: MAX or Ma
Shailesh Mehta: S.M. or S.m.
Unknown engineer P (41): ∙ P ∙ or ∙ p ∙ (possibly named Ray Palmer but unconfirmed).
Note: when a Lyntone matrix appears with other plants (e.g., with Allied Records' (ALI), Damont or Orlake), Lyntone provided the metals and get's a Plated At credit for each matrix number, and the other plant is credited with Pressed By.