rein-o wrote:
cplusplus wrote:
I love stuff like this. Thanks for posting. I didn't know the discs were inserted into the sleeves by hand!
Yeah, I remember someone told me when I bought the Galaxy Express movie box that the US had stacks of LDs and would get scratched when put into sleeves and Japanese LDs were superior since they didn't get scratches by the workers.
Don't know how true this is but that's what I was told.
Pretty much correct.
There is a video (pretty easy to find if memory serves me) showing how PIONEER produced their discs with the final bit showing the machine packing process - again if memory serves me the title shown being packed is Top Gun but not to sure on that.
Most (but not all) Japanese pressed LDs commissioned for the US market were sent from Japan packed in boxes (apparently in the "onion skin" sleeves) which were then opened at wherever the packing was done in the US & popped by hand into the outer cover which would have been printed & made in the US then shrink-wrapped.
It was a tax cost thing apparently as if the cover was "Made in the USA" & "Packed in the USA" it was then classed as part of the manufacturing process so incurred a lesser tax rate compared to bringing them in fully finished - ie: the disc & cover made in Japan, packed & ready for sale would incur a much higher tax cost.
On the cover of many LD US titles you will find "Disc made in Japan. Cover printed (or Cover made) in USA."
Would perhaps explain the previously mentioned chewed inner sleeves on many "new/sealed" US LD titles.
Hi rein-o, the feature is worth a read - some interesting information within it.
Cheers