Comments on: Bridgeport, CT Circa 1964

By: Michele Rivett

Michele Rivett — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 17:12:06 +0000

I have a Harmony Console No 30 Columbia phonograph. Looking to find the worth of it.

By: Marc

Marc — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 02:18:46 +0000

Here’s a link to the current “Columbia Towers” in B’pt:

https://www.emporis.com/buildings/361217/columbia-towers-bridgeport-ct-usa

By: Nick Sedelnik

Nick Sedelnik — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 18:33:35 +0000

In reply to marmil. I don't know the exact address, but it was on Barnum Avenue near the corner of Mill Hill Avenue.

By: AL

AL — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 05:13:44 +0000

Hi,
I happen to see a manual for a Columbia record player, and saw the manufacture address was 1473 Barnum Ave., Bridgeport 8, Conn.
Now I didn’t see any mention of record players being made here, but does that seem possible. Seeing that everyone just described vinyl pressing…?

By: Larry

Larry — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:56:19 +0000

In reply to W.B.. Sorry W.B. for the very late reply, but Dad passed away in 1987. Wish I could help you there. I suspect that all of the folks who actually were in the know on that subject have also passed on. Unless you come up with some kind of historical documentation on your own, these questions may never be answsered. I suppose an indirect way of finding out would be to bracket the time period with the recordings of the time and inspect the labels. thanks for your interest!

By: W.B.

W.B. — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 04:37:37 +0000

In reply to Larry. I'm curious if your father would remember if the Linotype fonts in use at Bridgeport's print shop (for the typesetting of label copy for printing on center label blanks for Columbia and other labels) were the same as later used in Pitman, and how long it took to transfer the various typefaces from the older plant to the newer one (I reckon the transfer of all the Linotype fonts were complete by July 1965, as a group of "interim" Varityper fonts used by Pitman since 1963 all but disappeared from new releases on Columbia and sublabels thereafter). Many of the records in my collection are on and/or pressed for other labels by Columbia, and I've long had a fondness for the typefaces used by the Bridgeport and Pitman plants.

By: chris

chris — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 10:55:34 +0000

In reply to Larry. Hi Larry - can you send us any photos or company documents to upload to the site?

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 10:45:20 +0000

My dad worked in the Bridgeport plant andvas xferrd to Pitman in the early 60s. We moved from Stratford CT to Pitman in 1962 or so, he retired from CBS around 1980 after 40 years service. It was just before that plant converted to CDs. Im sure the renewed interest in vinyl would warm his heart. I worked summers in the plant most recently in thd electroplating dept (matrix). The pics in the article bring back memories of hot nickel electyolyte, sharp metal edges, and the smell of vinyl in the background!

By: W.B.

W.B. — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 20:29:55 +0000

It was 1473 Barnum Avenue, and where once a major pressing plant stood is now indeed a condo (dubbed the “Columbia Towers”).

Besides the ‘CLB’ code used by Bell Sound Studios in New York for United Artists LP’s pressed by Columbia Bridgeport, there was also ‘BP’ etched on the deadwax of LP’s and 45’s mastered for releases on Cadence Records; and ‘CBFR’ from Fine Recording for Mercury Living Presence LP’s (other codes they used were ‘CPFR’ for the Pitman plant and ‘CTFR’ for Terre Haute).

By: marmil

marmil — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:52:38 +0000

Does anyone know the exact street address for the Columbia Records plant in Bridgeport? I live there and would like to see the building (which apparently is now condos). Thanks.