Jukebox Saturday Night

Most every place that had a pinball machine also had a jukebox. Taipei was no exception. Many clubs and bars had a jukebox and they were usually made by Wurlitzer.

Just as there were 3 major manufacturers of pinball, jukeboxes were made by just a few companies. Wurlitzer is probably the best known since it was the biggest of the jukebox companies, and is still around.

Wurlitzers were made in Detroit.  The company is now part of Gibson Company which makes guitars, jukeboxes and Baldwin pianos.

The other 2 major jukebox manufacturers were Seeburg and Rockola. Both companies had their headquarters in Chicago.

Seeburg had its greatest years of production in the 1950s. At one time, it owned the Williams pinball company. By the late 1970s it was gone.

The Rock-Ola company was begun by David Rockola.  It also declined during the 1970s and is now privately owned. 

There is a reason for this post's title. To find out why, click HERE.  Remember Teresa Brewer? Try this HERE. Everything has a history. It gets better.

Created in the 1940s, this jukebox was also a work of art with its neon tubes and 78 RPM records.

There were usually 24 selections and the records were played either horizontally or vertically. The stylus was steel.





This is a huge Wurlitzer from the 1950s. By that time, 45 RPM records were being played and the number of selections could be as many as 200.

Just put in your money, push a letter and then a number. Your selection would be played shortly. That is unless it was B-17.

This Rock-Ola machine was on E-Bay for $3K. A fully restored 1940s jukebox by any manufacturer is about $10K.

 A rebuilt 1950s machine goes for about $4K. Records are not included.

At the same burgers and fries restaurant in our hometown was a Seeburg jukebox. It was next to the Gottlieb pinball machine.

And, being in the Midwest, when we selected Ain't That A Shame, we got THIS, instead of THIS That held true for Tutti Frutti. We heard THIS, instead of THIS.

Record company executives thought that Pat Boone would be a more acceptable singer of this Rock and Roll trash by white parents. Or so the story goes.

Another Wurlitzer is shown here. The basic 1950s machine continued into the 1970s until electronic printed circuit boards and CDs ruined the mood for millions.

In 1965, my friend and I were at a pizza joint when someone must have loaded the machine with quarters. For the next hour, we heard one song only. You only have to listen ONCE.



These are all restored and ready to be sold. Check these repaired videos by clicking HERE. Another repair/restore video can be seen  HERE and HERE. 

Now, here are some machines in ACTION. Here is another TUNE. And, finally, THIS.