Third Man Records’ New Detroit Vinyl Plant: See Behind the Scenes
On Saturday, Jack White will expand his Third Man Records empire yet again by opening a new vinyl pressing plant in his hometown of Detroit. Housing “eight of the first newly built presses in 35 years,” the state-of-the-art Third Man Pressing facility will have the capacity to produce 5,000 records in one hour, and afford visitors the chance to observe the manufacturing process as it happens. According to the company, Third Man Pressing aims to “[bring] the tangible, the unexpected and the beautiful back into the business” of vinyl production.
Our photographer got an advance look at Third Man Pressing. Take a virtual tour via the gallery below.
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Third Man’s Detroit HQ
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone The historic neighborhood of Cass Corridor – also where Jack White went to high school – is now home to Third Man Records and Pressing.
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Main Pressing Area
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone During Rolling Stone’s visit to the plant, White Stripes reissues were being pressed on red vinyl.
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Newbilt Vinyl Press
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone One of Third Man’s custom-built, German-engineered presses. The plate on top and bottom holds the “stamper,” the mold that presses into the puck of hot vinyl.
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Vinyl Labels
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone These vinyl labels will be applied to a new EP by Detroit techno pioneer Derrick May.
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Quality Control
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone Employees in the quality-control area of the plant inspect vinyl for nicks and imperfections.
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Vinyl Rejects
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone These “bad” records didn’t pass inspection and will be recycled and re-pressed.
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The “Stamper Library”
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone The plant’s Stamper Library houses all of Third Man’s master vinyl stampers.
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Ben Blackwell and Team
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone Third Man co-founder Ben Blackwell and others get one of the new presses set up and calibrated.
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Vinyl “Hockey Puck”
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone A “hockey puck” of hot vinyl, ready to go on the press and be stamped into a record.
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Vinyl Pellets
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone Tiny vinyl pellets are fed into a hopper before being melted into a puck.
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Packing Facilities With Mural
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone The plant’s packing facilities are lined up in front of an LP-themed mural by Detroit artist Bob Sestok.
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On the Shelves
Image Credit: Peter Baker for Rolling Stone Third Man’s on-site store sells record players, branded accessories and, of course, all of the label’s vinyl releases.