Help Brooklyn Vinyl Works Restore Old Record Presses
The art of processing vinyl records requires really specific labor and skills, the downside of which sees many bands and artists waiting for months (or longer), for their albums to be formally released on wax. To aid the growing number of aspirant bands waiting for their vinyl in Brooklyn, Sleeping Bag records co-founder William Socolov is asking for $100,000 in a Kickstarter campaign, so he can ostensibly “make record manufacturing accessible,” to anyone who needs it.
Socolov has already bought a building in Brooklyn for their project, which will be called Brooklyn Vinyl Works, but the restorative nature of the plant, which will see old vinyl processing machines repaired and repurposed, is a costly endeavor. Record presses are hulking masses of steel that cost much money, but luckily, the team at Brooklyn Vinyl Works is skilled in areas of maintenance, and their restored, custom-tailored machines should be easy to maintain, at least for them. “When a part breaks on a record press, you can’t run down to the Vinyl Machinery Superstore. Instead, you need the skill and knowledge to fabricate it yourself. The folks at Brooklyn Vinyl Works have years and years of expertise in the art of making records and are adept in the art of repairing and maintaining these old machines,” Socolov writes on the Kickstarter Campaign’s web page.
What’s more, this project intends to incorporate the community, or at least offer tours to interested patrons who want a glimpse into the physical process of record making. Part of the Kickstarter proceeds will be put toward a massive glass wall that group tours can stand behind, probably with their mouths agape as they stare at their favorite band’s records being made.
Vinyl Works is also giving away prizes based on different Kickstarter donations, from tours of the plant in its nascent stages for $50 to rare print photography from Jannette Beckman for $260. And for just a mere $25, you can come away with some cool stuff, like the t-shirt and tote bag pictured below.