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Old Vinyl Factory
The Old Vinyl Factory is a complex of buildings formerly owned by the British music company EMI in Hayes, within the London Borough of Hillingdon. The site was originally purchased by Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd and the buildings were designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners in the early 20th century.
While used by EMI, the site was responsible for the production of many thousands of shellac and vinyl records by 20th century musical acts, as well as radios and other broadcasting equipment.
In April 2011 the site was purchased for redevelopment by a joint venture of Cathedral Group PLC and Development Securities plc (now U + I Group). Under plans for £250 million of works, the site, covering 17 acres (6.9 ha), is to include commercial and residential units and a university technical college.
The Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd, the precursor to EMI, purchased the site in the early 20th century and began constructing the first buildings in 1907. The company had originally sold gramophones and discs imported from the US, and began making its own recordings in London in 1898. These were pressed at a factory in Hanover, Germany, until the Hayes Record Factory opened. From 1910, records bore the His Master's Voice trademark. The tenor Edward Lloyd took part in the groundbreaking ceremony. Vinyl records were produced from 1952.
What became the Cabinet Building was opened in 1911, after the Italian soprano Luisa Tetrazzini laid the cornerstone. The following year, a head office was built nearby on the site. During the First World War, the factory was used for the production of munitions.
During the period 1927–29, the site was further extended with alterations and additions designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners. The site covered 58 acres (23 ha) by 1929 and 7,500 people were employed across it.
The factories again returned to the production of munitions during the Second World War, as well as domestic radio receivers, which were marketed with some adaptations to households by the Home Office for £12. The site was bombed on 7 July 1944, killing 37 employees.
In 1952, EMI began the production of "microgroove" records, made of vinyl rather than the shellac-based compound used for earlier records. Artists of the time – including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard and Pink Floyd – had their vinyl records produced at the site. Production reached its peak in the 1960s at the Hayes site, which covered 150 acres (61 ha) and saw 14,000 people in work there.
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Old Vinyl Factory
The Old Vinyl Factory is a complex of buildings formerly owned by the British music company EMI in Hayes, within the London Borough of Hillingdon. The site was originally purchased by Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd and the buildings were designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners in the early 20th century.
While used by EMI, the site was responsible for the production of many thousands of shellac and vinyl records by 20th century musical acts, as well as radios and other broadcasting equipment.
In April 2011 the site was purchased for redevelopment by a joint venture of Cathedral Group PLC and Development Securities plc (now U + I Group). Under plans for £250 million of works, the site, covering 17 acres (6.9 ha), is to include commercial and residential units and a university technical college.
The Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd, the precursor to EMI, purchased the site in the early 20th century and began constructing the first buildings in 1907. The company had originally sold gramophones and discs imported from the US, and began making its own recordings in London in 1898. These were pressed at a factory in Hanover, Germany, until the Hayes Record Factory opened. From 1910, records bore the His Master's Voice trademark. The tenor Edward Lloyd took part in the groundbreaking ceremony. Vinyl records were produced from 1952.
What became the Cabinet Building was opened in 1911, after the Italian soprano Luisa Tetrazzini laid the cornerstone. The following year, a head office was built nearby on the site. During the First World War, the factory was used for the production of munitions.
During the period 1927–29, the site was further extended with alterations and additions designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners. The site covered 58 acres (23 ha) by 1929 and 7,500 people were employed across it.
The factories again returned to the production of munitions during the Second World War, as well as domestic radio receivers, which were marketed with some adaptations to households by the Home Office for £12. The site was bombed on 7 July 1944, killing 37 employees.
In 1952, EMI began the production of "microgroove" records, made of vinyl rather than the shellac-based compound used for earlier records. Artists of the time – including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard and Pink Floyd – had their vinyl records produced at the site. Production reached its peak in the 1960s at the Hayes site, which covered 150 acres (61 ha) and saw 14,000 people in work there.