7" Vinyl pressing (Single)

The process of manufacturing vinyl records has changed very little since the 1940s, when PVC (vinyl) became the primary production material. The first step involves cutting the groove into a master disc, from which a so-called stamper is then made (a negative copy that has ridges instead of grooves).

Next, two stampers (side A and side B) are placed into a pressing machine, where a so-called vinyl puck made of molten PVC and the labels are inserted between them. Under pressure, a double-sided disc with grooves, a center hole, and labels is formed. The disc is then cooled with water, which hardens the material.

The final step is trimming the excess PVC from the edges of the record.

This small record was introduced in 1949 by RCA Victor, with the intention of replacing shellac records, as it offered the same capacity – about 4 minutes at 45 rpm. Unfortunately, Columbia’s LPs better met the expectations of classical and jazz listeners, offering an impressive 22.5 minutes per side even at that time.

RCA Victor therefore had to take a different path – one that would prove crucial for the development of pop music. With its “45s,” the company began to promote popular music, a trend that reached its peak in the 1950s with the rise of rock ’n’ roll.

Its popularity was further boosted by a lower retail price compared to LPs, making it more accessible to teenagers. The new product was given the name “single,” and it became a permanent part of music terminology and history.

The capacity is about 5 minutes at 45 rpm (single) and 7 minutes at 33⅓ rpm (EP).