1946 Wurlitzer Model 1015 Jukebox

1946 Wurlitzer
78 - RPM Jukebox
Model "1015"
24 Selections

It's a 1946 Wurlitzer "Bubbler"! By now, anyone considering purchasing one of the beauties probably knows enough about their history that it would seem unnecessary for us to attempt to elaborate here. What might set one apart from another would be the quality of workmanship applied during it's reconditioning.

We believe this particular jukebox was originally restored by Glenn Streeter of Antique Apparatus in Sherman Oaks, CA around 1982. That would be many years before he purchased the Rockola Corporation in Chicago.

Glenn did some pretty amazing cabinetry in those days and this one reflects his pride in workmanship. The marbling in the veneer is spectacular even if it doesn't show in the accompanying photos. We exchanged all the nickel castings, which would need constant polishing, with a nice set of chrome ones.

Because we sell jukeboxes worldwide, we frequently don't rebuild the inside "workings" until it’s sold and we know what country it will go to and at what speed it will be playing. Since we custom make records for our customers at any speed and with any music, we need to know what the tracking pressure will need to be.

Of course we might also need to install different gears and or idler wheels as well as step up transformers to accommodate the power (voltage / cycles) of the country when shipping to other parts of the world.

Thus the "innards" of this unit will be fully reconditioned and customized to fit the buyers' needs. This one's already set up for "free play". This is one beautiful jukebox and when we're done with it, it'll sound great and should give another 50 or so years of service.

Although we recondition a ton of jukes every year, the number of 1015s we can do is limited. 1015's are a much different beast and take a lot more time to rebuild.

Should we custom build this one for you?

1954 Seeburg Model "R" Jukebox

1954 Seeburg
45 - RPM Jukebox
Model "R"
100 Selections

Most everybody likes the "R". It has classy period styling and 5 speakers. Besides an improved Hi-Fi amp the "R" went to a permanent magnetic speaker system using various sizes. Previous Seeburgs used a dynamic 15-inch speaker. Thus the "R" was better capable of reproducing the "highs".

Some production units had UTAH and others JENSON brand speakers. Jenson was a very popular consumer brand at the time. The Pickering (red head) cartridge introduced the year before on the "G" model was retained, making this one very modern HI FI juke.

Lots were sold and even today the "R" registers as one of the more desirable of the '50s jukes. Like many jukes of the '50s, the coloring on the "R" cabinet was bland. In fact many manufacturers of the day used a type of Polaroid photograph decal as the final finish. That way all cabinets of a specific model were identical.

This particular unit had one original nice side and one that had too many scratches in the decal. Therefore, we opted to take it down to the original veneer and stain it. It came out dang nice so we clear coated it after that.

As for the burl wood effect that originally came as part of the decal set covering a portion of each side as well in the front below the grill we applied, with heat, a commercial grade vinyl designed to last many years, even outdoors. It won't shrink like contact paper that some folks apply.

As for where this specific juke came from, let's just call it an orphan. It and a Seeburg "JL" were discovered huddled together in a corner of the shop a few months ago. No one seems to know from whence they appeared or if they came in at the same time. This jukebox is looking for the attention your family can give it.

1962 Rockola "Empress" Jukebox

1962 Rockola
45 - RPM Jukebox
Model "1496"
"Empress"
120 Selections

This is a great little stereo jukebox. By this time Seeburg had hidden the ablity to see the records play, but Rockola was late to the game. But, today that a good thing because eveybody would rather see the jukebox play the records. It's a part of the charm of having a jukebox.

This is a very 60's looking machine with lots of chrome and colors.

1965 Rockola
45 - RPM Jukebox
Model "430"
100 Selections

This is one very rare machine. We believe Rockola was the only jukebox company that ever made wall mount 45 - rpm jukeboxes. There were three models produced in 1958, 1962 and 1965. We've sold more than 15,000 jukes since 1971 and have only seen 3 of them up close. We now own 2 of them.

This jukebox is fully contained with amplifier and speakers inclosed. It holds fifty 7 - inch records and playing both sides is 100 selections. The nifty part is if you have any of the "little LPs" or "Compact 33s" made from 1960 through 1971, they will play as many as 6 tunes per disc. You heard correctly: 6 tunes in STEREO at 33 1/3 RPM on a 7 - inch record. That could be 350 songs!

Originally this model is intended to have a remote speaker attached to it to provide stereo. We've modified it to do so with two 10 - inch full range speakers mounted, as originally, on the front door.

If lack of floor space is your concern, then this baby is the solution. It's only 18 1/8 - inches deep.

Be the first one on your block or in your state for that matter to have one of these nifty eye-catchers hanging on your pool room or apartment wall.

It comes with the original wall mounting bracket too!

1956 Seeburg Model "J L" Jukebox

1956 Seeburg
45 - RPM Jukebox
Model "J L"
100 Selections

The 1955 J and 1956 JL (light color cabinet) Seeburg models moved away from the colors and flashy looks of previous Seeburg "C" and "R" models.

Through the years the "J"s seemed to take a back seat to these models. We at JUKEBOXES UNLIMITED on the other hand love them for their rugged cabinet with almost nothing to get broken easily like the fluted glass and plastics in the grill areas of the "C" and "R" models.

We've been using the "J"s for party rentals for nearly 40 years and they never come back broken. During the '80s and '90s, we had a fleet of 12 of them working their little butts off every weekend entertaining folks at parties in "So Cal".

When done right they can really crank out the sounds and pull it off all the way to the top. We like the very clean styling lines that are reminiscent of cars of the era. Think about a 1955 Cadillac El Dorado.

The "J"s had an improved Hi-Fi amp and great UTAH speakers. With two 12 - inch and one 8 - inch speakers, the right cartridge, they can sound amazing. We love the "J"s.

For the first 10 years of our company, folks would always ask me what juke I'd personally own if I could only have one. I'd answer: "a Seeburg "J". Luckily I don't expect to be in that position again of only having one jukebox in my collection.

Can't remember where this particular unit came from and it's been hiding in the back of the warehouse for quite some time. It was expected to be reconditioned for rental use.

We've redone the cabinet in its natural wood finish with a clear coat on top for protection. Because we like them for party rentals and keep them for ourselves, we seldom offer them for sale. It's just that our warehouse is busting at the seams and we need to reduce inventory … a lot!

2004 Rockola "Bubbler" CD Jukebox

2004 Rockola
CD Jukebox
Model "CD-8-C"
Over 3,000 Selections

After Rockola in Chicago, was purchased by Antique Apparatus of Torrance CA, the "Bubbler" model they were making, underwent a number of changes. This "C" model is the most technically advanced of them all. (The yellow components inside the cabinet reveal that).

For years these 'bubblers' have boasted outlandish power, so don't expect to sit in front of it with it cranked up all the way.

One of the most appealing features of these Rockolas is the revolving color cylinders (animation) within the top arch of the cabinet. In a low light setting, this baby looks like Las Vegas on a Saturday night.

You might enjoy the story of how we got this one. It came to us from Vegas! Although we seldom find a reason to purchase jukes from very far away, this one gave me a personal reason to trade the bright lights of LA for those of Vegas.

This older guy calls from LV and says he's downsizing and needs to sell his "bubbler" right away. His story is that he bought it new in 2007 from a billiard store and never really used. I'm thinking, "sure, that's what they all say".

I ask him to send me some photos. From them it appears to be a CD-8. Then I have him read

me the model number on the ID sticker on the back. He tells me it’s a model CD-SC. Never heard of that one. He also says he just had eye surgery and to just come up to LV and buy it. The movers were coming the next day. So I hopped in one of the delivery trucks and headed to Vegas.

As soon as I saw this unit, I knew he was telling the truth about it not ever being used. He had told me that right after he bought it, he remodeled the house to the tune of $3 mil. So it sat in storage for 2 years.

It only had 10 CDs in it and no title strips. By the time the remodel was finished the value of his home had plummeted so he's moving to a smaller place.

The juke was immaculate. Here's the catch. What he though he read, with one bad eye, on the back of the cabinet as CD-SC, was really CD-8C. You see by 2007 Bubblers were touch screen and had no typical title strip display.

He assumed that when he bought it from the billiard store in 2007 that it was the current model. It was actually a floor model from 2004. Our experience is that billiard stores tend to do that. Thus he didn't get what he thought he was paying top dollar for.

(BTW, anytime a seller can't tell you the year of a Rockola Bubbler, have him send you a photo of the sticker on the back. It shows the year. Also have him go into the computer program and take a shot of the total plays shown in the display window).

When I got it back to the shop and lit it up, we found the computer only showing 575 total plays. That's like a weekend's worth of tunes. The envelope with all the instruction manuals was un-opened as was the remote control with batteries still sealed. It was still brand new!

This beauty will light up your room and your life.

1994 AMI/Rowe "Laserstar" Jukebox

1994 AMI Rowe
Compact Disc Jukebox
Model "CD100C"
"Laserstar
Over 3,000 Selections

This AMI/Rowe model CD100C "Laserstar" jukebox plays over 3,000 selections and sounds great. This juke displays the complete cd covers, so theirs no problem reconizing your favorite artists. This is a great sounding and good looking jukebox.

1953 Seeburg "G" Jukebox

1954 Seeburg
45 - RPM Jukebox
Model "G"
100 Selections

Following the tremendous success of Seeburg's M100C of 1952-3 came two nearly identical looking machines both introduced in September 1953 for the 1954 year. I wonder if the complaints that filtered back to the distributors regarding the fragileness of the front of the "C" had any bearing on the "100W" and "HF100G" being built considerably more rugged? Although the "W" had plastic pilasters, the noisy animation was even dropped.

The front of both the "W" and "G" was sturdy chromed metal and resembled the front bumpers of the cars of the day. That 'bumper' could probably hold its ground against the real front bumper of most of today's cars and even light duty trucks. The "G" went one step farther in ruggedness with stainless steel pilasters.

Ironically, those very features of the "C" that irritated jukebox operators of yesterday, (animation behind frosted plastic pilasters with round glass mirrors in the grill) is what drives buyers to seek out the "C" today.

Jukes can get pretty banged up while being drug from one location to another and pushed around in the shop. So a big difference between the "C" and the "W"/"G” was durability. Gone was the exposed wooden front covered only by a decal made from a Polaroid photograph. (You could order replacement decals).

From the earliest days, jukeboxes mimicked the styles of the new cars. So by 1954, with cars no longer having that "Tin Lizzy" look, it was natural for plastic to give way to chromed steel.

The "C" and "W" had basically the same sound system whereas the "G" was Seeburg’s first High Fidelity jukebox. It incorporated an advanced amp and tweeter with a primitive dividing network besides the 15 - inch woofer of the "C" and "W". The "G" did sound better. In fact we've even gone a step farther by adding one transistor. We might call it a "Hybrid".

1961 Wurlitzer "2500" Jukebox

1961 Wurlitzer
45 - RPM Jukebox
Model "2500"
200 Selections

The 2500 series came along at a time when most jukebox manufacturers were beginning to hide their record playing mechanisms as well as the records. This was a transitional period for cabinet style. It was a time when rounded edges gave way to sharp corners. That said, the 2500 still seemed to have a "softer" yet classy look about it with its open, wide and rounded lid glass rounded front corner moldings.

By now, all the manufacturers had caught up with Seeburg in stereo and 200 selections, but by next year they were going to have to play "catch up" again following Seeburg’s switch to fully 'solid state' amplifiers. Therefore, the 2500 still had a nice powerful 2 channel, 'tube type' amplifier pushing two 12 - inch woofers and one 5 - inch round mid/high speaker.

This particular unit came from a large catch we made a while back. There was also a 2510 model in the bunch that we "parted out" expecting to need to need it to "rob Peter to pay Paul". However, all we took from the 2510 was the turntable motor and cartridge.

The cabinet is in nice "original" shape and the back doors look practically new. Half the time one or both doors are missing or have been pried open and bent with these models. We set it up to take coins, but it’s also easy to switch it to “free play”.

This is one very nice, good working, good sounding Wurlitzer.