Verification, Cleaning & Goldmine Grading
To ensure accuracy in grading and preservation, every disc is professionally cleaned using specialist vinyl cleaning fluid and a carbon fiber brush. This process removes deep-seated debris and neutralizes static charge before the play-grading session begins.
We identify Tube-Cut vs. Solid-State variations by examining off-runout characteristics. Mother and Stamper codes (e.g., "1 G") are verified using a 10x jeweler's loupe to ensure the earliest factory batches.
| Grade | Visual & Audio Performance |
|---|---|
| Mint (M) | Perfect. No signs of wear. Usually unplayed or factory sealed. |
| Near Mint (NM) | Shiny and bright. No visible defects or spindle marks. Plays perfectly. |
| Excellent (EX) | Top-tier playback. May have a faint paper scuff. Near-silent backgrounds. |
| Very Good Plus (VG+) | Minor scuffs or light hairlines. Minor surface noise in quiet passages. No skips. |
| Very Good (VG) | Visible surface wear/scratches. Surface noise is evident but doesn't overpower music. |
| Good Plus (G+) | Significant scratches/scuffs. Lacks original luster. Significant noise but no skips. |
| Grade | Structural & Visual Condition |
|---|---|
| Mint (M) | No creases, folds, seam splits, or defects. Often still in shrink. |
| Near Mint (NM) | No more than minor defects. No ring wear or corner dings. Laminate fully intact and glassy. |
| Excellent (EX) | Slight wear. May have minor corner bruising or tiny localized laminate lifts (bubbles) at the spine. No seam splits. |
| Very Good Plus (VG+) | Light ring wear or minor seam rubbing. Laminate peeling is minimal and restricted to edges. No full splits. |
| Very Good (VG) | Visible shelf wear. Significant ring wear or seam splits. Notable laminate flaking or creasing across the front. |
| Good Plus (G+) | Heavy wear. Large seam splits, heavy staining, or significant writing. Laminate may be largely missing. |
Archival Note: 1960s UK 'Flipback' sleeves (Garrod & Lofthouse / Ernest J. Day) are prone to laminate lift and seam fragility. We inspect the 'flipback' tabs specifically for structural integrity and document any "foxing" (age spots) on the unlaminated rear covers.
To prevent seam splits during transit, records are removed from their original inner sleeves and housed in new anti-static liners. Everything is shipped in heavy-duty cruciform mailers with double stiffeners.