Anyone here own a Jukebox?

[Zymurgy]

This group seems to have a wide variety of interests. Does anyone here own an older record Jukebox?

I have always been kind of fascinated by them and nearly all the restaurants of my youth had one.

I have come across one that I am very interested in, a Seeburg made in 1967. They seems to be very serviceable and this one is fully functional and holds 80 45s.

If there are any jukebox owners, anything I should look for that could be an expensive repair?

 

[Snotty]

My late Brother-in-law rebuilt a few of these. He said the hardest problem is fixing/finding the turntable drive if the one in the machine is faulty.

 

[stubs300]

Oh man, I wish! I say start digging through your favorite search engine and terms and dig up all info you can on it, knowledge is power! Good Luck

 

[Ripinator]

This group seems to have a wide variety of interests. Does anyone here own an older record Jukebox?

I have always been kind of fascinated by them and nearly all the restaurants of my youth had one.

I have come across one that I am very interested in, a Seeburg made in 1967. They seems to be very serviceable and this one is fully functional and holds 80 45s.

If there are any jukebox owners, anything I should look for that could be an expensive repair?

View attachment 320547

Mike:

We have owned a Seeburg Model C for over twenty years. The machines are pretty much bullet proof, but if repairs are needed, you are almost on your own. Unless you can find someone still doing that kind of work. Here is a picture of the one we have:

 

[Newport 66]

I've always longed for a booth sized jukebox. Most A&W's or drive-ins with inside seating had them back in the day.

 

[LocuMob]

Mike:

We have owned a Seeburg Model C for over twenty years. The machines are pretty much bullet proof, but if repairs are needed, you are almost on your own. Unless you can find someone still doing that kind of work. Here is a picture of the one we have:

View attachment 320567

I've always longed for a booth sized jukebox. Most A&W's or drive-ins with inside seating had them back in the day.

I know a guy, he does repair, and can help track them down.

 

[Zymurgy]

Mike:

We have owned a Seeburg Model C for over twenty years. The machines are pretty much bullet proof, but if repairs are needed, you are almost on your own. Unless you can find someone still doing that kind of work. Here is a picture of the one we have:

View attachment 320567

What a beauty very classy RIP. I'm lucky there's a guy about 25 miles from me that's worked on them for many years. I talked to him first he says that's a very serviceable jukebox he's worked on many over the years the only thing make sure the cosmetics are in order and to your satisfaction. I said I already know what that's like I own a classic car.

 

[78Brougham]

Here's mine. Love it!

 

[Wildaugust]

Very cool! I can remember these as a kid. Salisbury House, A&W, a few other burger joints had them. If it has transistors it should mean a few less parts needed to keep it working, although tubes have a certain charm. Some people say they sound better. I don't know, but I like the glow.

 

[68_fury_ragtop]

I currently have a later model Rowe that I rebuilt. But have had a few over the years that I have fixed up. Juke boxes can be expensive and fun to restore. It also depends on how far you go on the restoration. Like anything, there are forums and companies that specialize in certain brands or models. I still check Craigs list for parts units for mine that don't work or that someone picked up and can't get working. Just like a car, get a service manual for the model you have. It will save you hours of replacing parts and trouble shooting things. As a starting point, just start with clearing everything. Many times years of old grease and smoke from sitting in a bar will be a cause of many issues. Needles / belts and common wear items are still mostly available for many models.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

I would love to get a Wurlitzer 1015 that plays 78s one day...

 

[Zymurgy]

I would love to get a Wurlitzer 1015 that plays 78s one day...
View attachment 320708

Yes Ross that would be the ultimate. When I started warming my wife up to the idea of a jukebox that it what she pictured in her head.

If the Seeburg was closer I would have probably bought it already, if it's in as good a shape as the pictures show. It is my wife's favorite colors and it just so happened to be made that year she was born. Also I'm almost certain I played one exactly or very similar to this when I was a kid, I remember the rotating album covers at the top

Hopefully I don't wait too long to see it and then it is gone, I am way behind this year in my scheduled work.

 

[Ripinator]

Yes Ross that would be the ultimate. When I started warming my wife up to the idea of a jukebox that it what she pictured in her head.

If the Seeburg was closer I would have probably bought it already, if it's in as good a shape as the pictures show. It is my wife's favorite colors and it just so happened to be made that year she was born. Also I'm almost certain I played one exactly or very similar to this when I was a kid, I remember the rotating album covers at the top

Hopefully I don't wait too long to see it and then it is gone, I am way behind this year in my scheduled work.

Mike: Don't know if yer heart is already set on that machine, but if I was going to get another jukebox, it would be this one:

This is a Seeburg V - Model. It is the first fully transistorized Seeburg model, and it plays 200 songs selected via a rolling drum. Lots of chrome and cool lighting.

 

[Zymurgy]

Now that is cool as hell. I am kind of new to this, and haven't done a lot of research. I have some nostalgia for the 60s jukeboxes, but that is truly a work of art.

There is one fully restored on Ebay. I can buy a pretty nice cbody for the same price.

 

[tallhair]

Mike: Don't know if yer heart is already set on that machine, but if I was going to get another jukebox, it would be this one:

View attachment 320726

This is a Seeburg V - Model. It is the first fully transistorized Seeburg model, and it plays 200 songs selected via a rolling drum. Lots of chrome and cool lighting.

Very cool indeed

 

[Zymurgy]

Wish me luck there is a local auction that happens to have a fully functioning 1962 Seeburg DS160. I believe this was the last year for both a visible display of the record selection mechanism and of the tube amplifier. I am hoping that since it is just one item of 2000 and not nationally advertised, that I might get lucky. I am going to go check it out next week. I still really like the first one and it is in my price range, but this one is definitely more valuable.

It needs the side panels of cabinet restored and painted, so I am hoping that might be a negative for some of the bidders. This would be a plus in my book, because I can do that myself.

Here is what this model looks like.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Go for it!! Good luck!

 

[Zymurgy]

Wish me luck tomorrow. I have kind of been on a mission to find a jukebox. The one I am going to look at tomorrow is a 1973 Wurlitzer Americana. I have never seen one like this, most of the 70s jukeboxes I don't care for, but I like this one.

I have only looked at one in person so far. It ended up being a "20 footer", it was a 1955 model and it had been molested bad, didn't even make an offer.

This is the 73 Wurlitzer, the first is the actual jukebox, the others are just random internet photos.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Good luck!

 

[Zymurgy]

Well I did it. Jukeboxes are a lot like c-bodies. All the mechanics can be repaired or refurbished. You better find a one which is complete. Any cosmetic you are way ahead of they are in good shape because cosmetic parts are rare and change every year..

The bad, selection buttons, carousel, pay play not working, and speakers are toast.

The good it will play one selection and can pull a single record out of the carousel. From what I have read nearly everything can be serviced and parts are readily available. Also if it has sat, it has for 2 years, many issues can be resolved by simply clearing everything.

The cabinet is in amazing shape, no scrapes or dents, just really dirty. After a closer inspection the only thing I can't fix, cosmetic, it a piece of white metal which needs re-chromed.