The Londonjazzcollector website (with thanks to the 7tt77 website) lists matrix codes which identify the ‘lacquer cut machine number’ – it indicates what country the lacquer was cut in. It doesn’t add much to the information given on this website, but here’s a listing of these matrix codes:
- Austria – 720
- Australia – 150
- Belgium – 170
- Brazil – 200
- Canada – 230
- Denmark – 300
- Far East – 022
- France – 380
- Germany – 320
- Great Britain – 420
- Hungary – 450
- Italy – 520
- Luxembourg – 630
- Norway – 710
- Netherlands – 670
- Portugal – 790
- South Africa – 960
- Spain – 850
- Sweden – 970
- Switzerland – 980
- Rest of the World – 000
The listing may be incomplete and may also not be completely representative for the 1950’s and early 1960’s – the Minigroove years. I noticed that on many early pressings, this code is not present at all. It was probably introduced around 1955.
From a short inspection, if the code is present, almost all Philips Minigroove albums that I have, show the 670 number. It’s also present on the few albums I have from more exotic locations, like in Africa or South America. UK pressings usually show the code 420, Italian pressings show the code 520 (but I also have an Italian album with the UK code), but I didn’t find 320, for German lacquers. I guess the vast majority of lacquers were made in the Netherlands and then shipped to foreign countries, where the stampers were made and the records were pressed.
