Jukeboxes | Collectibles & Collectors Items

For anyone interested in music from all eras, there could be nothing better than buying a fantastic working example of a Jukebox. It conjures up images for many people of the swinging sixties, giving you a real piece of 'Happy Days' heritage in your own home. Knowing what to buy and what pitfalls to avoid can be difficult so let us point you in the right direction with this simple guide.

A brief history of the Jukebox
The term Jukebox was coined by the Americans in the 1930's but productions of such devices have been known from the late 1800's. They were originally only capable of playing single pieces of music, until multi-record units became available in the early 1900's. It was at this point that people were able to choose between songs using an interface on the box. Remote selectors were a popular choice as the Jukebox progressed, allowing customers to choose records from the comfort of their restaurant or bar booth. Overtime the Jukebox has become an iconic machine, depicting certain musical eras perfectly. They are often used in films to set the scene purely because of their recognisable appearance worldwide.

Where do you start your collection?
Before you start your collection have a think about what interests you about the Jukebox. Is it the era, brand or style that draws you towards a particular piece? Jukeboxes have been in production since the early 1930's and you will still find many examples in excellent working order. They were certainly built to stand the test of time, not really something that can be said of some of the musical devices on sale today! You may be fascinated in the history of classic manufacturers such as Seeburg, Wurlitzer or Jensen. If you choose this area, it is not just the Jukeboxes themselves that you can collect but also literature and related merchandise. Or is it the image that draws you in? If you are old enough to remember selecting your songs on a Jukebox, then what better way to bring back the memories of your youth? You may just want to play your part as the Fonze! Any reason will do.

Brands to watch out for
Seeburg-Seeburg was originally a family run company, and were world renowned for their manufacture of classic machines right up until they closed in the 1980's. They were the first devices that were capable of playing huge numbers of records, holding up to 50 records at a time and playing back to back to give 100 track choices, which was unchallenged at the time. Seeburg Jukeboxes are still to this day an extremely collectable item. If you can find one in either in good condition or lovingly restored, then you will be hard pushed to buy a better example of a classic Jukebox.
Wurlitzer-The Wurlitzer Jukebox came along a little later, and is often thought of as the iconic image of the Rock 'n' Roll times. In the 60's and 70's no American diner or Dance Hall would have been complete without one. They became so popular at one point that many people ditched the term Jukebox, using Wurlitzer to describe any generic Jukebox. Due to their appearance, Wurlitzer Jukeboxes are a collectors dream, with retro styling and covered in neon lights, they depict the era perfectly.

Where can you look to build your collection?
If you search hard enough you will find places that will specialise in the sale of Jukeboxes and related material. The best place to look would be dealers that concentrate solely on the refurbishment and sale of the Jukebox, as they will usually have the knowledge and stock to provide you with what you want. A little bit of Internet investigation will allow you to find them easier. Take a look at the numerous on-line forums dedicated to Jukeboxes as you will find collectors and enthusiasts alike, who will be able to provide you with some help to get you off to a good start. They will all have had to start somewhere so use their knowledge to help you to make your first purchase. Whilst on-line, checkout the classified sites which can sometimes turn up trumps. A classic Jukebox in excellent condition does not come cheap though so be sure to shop around. Although the Internet provides you with a fantastic search mechanism in which to locate your chosen Jukebox, nothing really compares to getting up close and test driving your chosen box.

Depending on your age Jukeboxes may either take you nostalgically back to your early years or be something you have been interested in, but never truly experienced. Jukeboxes really do capture the essence of music from the 30's to the 80's, and what better way to experience the music than to buy or collect the original machines that played out those classic tunes.