RARE GRATEFUL DEAD PROCESS TEST PRESSING 7" 45.

This is one of a kind!!
The story in a nutshell on record production process test pressings is as follows:

Normally a half dozen to several dozen process test pressings of any particular record are run to assure proper vinyl distribution, label placement, vinyl thickness, groove integrity and various other process concerns.

At the point that all the critical process criteria are met, the test pressings are then ground up and recycled back into the system for reuse in pressing more records.

This test pressing is one of an entire collection I purchased from a retired quality control inspector who worked for CBS Records and their various affiliates. For over 20 years he managed to squander away the occasional test pressing and this is one that was rescued from the grinders.

This type of test pressing is extremely rare and I believe the collection I purchased is unique and no other similar pressings exist anywhere, period.

These test pressings probably cannot be played on standard phonograph players due to the sometimes heavy roll of flash vinyl attached around their perimeter. They also tend to be slightly warped as they were removed from the process before they were properly cooled and often the labels are incorrectly placed and the 45 holes not punched. The grooves tend to have noticeable scratches due to the fact that the pressings were removed from the manufacturing process and tossed into waste recycle containers.

Now I know that there are those of you out there that would love to argue the terminology of "test pressing". That is fine and I understand completely. It is generally accepted that test pressings have a label that denotes "test pressing" on it and that is what the majority of you are familiar with. Be assured that this record is, by it's very nature, also a true "test pressing". A rose by any other name would still smell like a rose, and so forth. My acquisition also included a number of "test pressings" of the variety that has the "test pressing" notation denoted on the label (the type you are all familiar with). These of course were manufactured to be submitted for approval for content and audio quality prior to large scale manufacturing for distribution. Since I am (in all probability) the sole holder of any quantity of these process test pressings, I am going to suggest that there are two categories, process test pressings and approval test pressings. If this offends anyone, sorry.
P.S. I no longer remember his name but he lived in Springhill, Tennessee.