Only 1 Lacquer producer left, in a garage in Japan?

And old successful artists with no bills to pay

@lps4eloise,

Thanks, that was an informative article.

Most of the people i know using Apollo Lacquer for dubplates/acetates and disc masters. But i can’t open their site: www.apollomasters.com

" Apollo Masters Company manufactures Master lacquer discs in different Brands: Apollo, Transco and PY formulas."

They are closed, burned, really ???

Business is good. I suspect they had insurance and will be back up eventually. 
Audioguy, blanket statements like yours are always destined to be inaccurate. The best current pressings are easily as good as the best old ones. However many of the 180 gm "audiophile" pressings of popular music are garbage. Old classical records particularly from European companies are excellent. Old pressings of popular music vary from OK to garbage. Modern versions can be much better. The single largest problem I have with modern pressings is that the lacquers are frequently cut on old poorly maintained laths and the rumble is  bordering on ridiculous. I can never remember having this problem in the old days. You never have any problems with high res digital versions.

I discussed this issue with a close friend of mine a mastering engineer who cuts lacquers on a Neumann VMS 80. Saff Mastering. This is truly a big deal.  Lucky for him, he buys his lacquers through the small production in Japan.  These japanese lacquers are more expensive but higher quality than the California operation.  Saff thinks this fire will stress the business especially for the several studios that rely too heavily on cutting vinyl. Probably will put lots of places out of work.

@mijostyn raises a good point.  No one makes new lathes and servicing them can be a huge ordeal.  Think of how much better things could get if the lath tech was pushed forward and didn't end with 80's tech!