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?

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.

1946 Wurlitzer Model "1015" Jukebox

1946 Wurlitzer
78 - RPM Jukebox
Model "1015"
24 Selections
Previously owned by Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson

This is one from our "Celebrity Jukes Collection". This was Burt Reynold's personal jukebox in his home in Florida. It was also in his and Loni Anderson's home together off Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles and in Loni's home off Mulholland Drive after they split up.

Don Muller (JUKEBOXES UNLIMITED ®) saw a 1015 on the set of "Evening Shade" years ago when Dom Deluise introduced him to Burt. But, Loni and Don’s memories are a little fuzzy on whether this is the same one. This could easily be verified by viewing an episode to see if the Wurlitzer decal on the front window of the jukebox on the show is missing the "W" as this one is. The decal on this machine can easily be replaced it if the buyer prefers.

What an amazing history this jukebox has. Owned and loved by Burt Reynolds, the number-one box-office attraction for five straight years (1978-82) and lovely Loni Anderson, the sultry co-star of "WKRP In Cincinnati".

JUKEBOXES UNLIMITED ® has been servicing this beauty since Burt brought it to Los Angeles in the early 1980's. Photos taken when Don purchased it one year ago show some discolored metal moldings and veneer that is lifting slightly.

We've completely rebuilt the "workings" of the jukebox including the sound system. We've installed updated components that allow this baby to really crank out the sound. The speed is "right on" and it sounds great!

The speed had been changed to 45 - rpm when we bought it, but we've brought it back to it's original 78 - rpm glory. Also in keeping with originality, most exterior cosmetics will be left the same as when Loni owned it. The unit is on permanent free play.

This was part of the private lives of these two beloved superstars and it could very well be sitting in your business, office lobby or home game room. All original papers and digital photos included.

1973 Wurliter Model "1050" Jukebox

1973 Wurlitzer
45 - RPM Jukebox
Model "1050 Nostalgic"
100 Selections

I've got a lot to say about this baby and Wurlitzer on a whole. I'll start back in 1969-70 with the model "3400 Statesman". This was a good looking, good sounding jukebox with a lot of problems with the numerous micro switches. I believe this is the machine that brought Wurlitzer to its knees in America.

In 1973 a big time Louisiana jukebox operator offered to sell me 25 of these machines for $40 each. Even though he warned me of the problems, I jumped at the deal. They turned out to be pure lemons.

He had told me he purchased 400 of them and they broke down so frequently that Wurlitzer had sent a mechanic to stay in a motel in the area.

By 1972 Wurlitzer had the problems worked out with the model "3600 Superstar", but it was too late for Wurlitzer's reputation. They made basically 6 more models in the USA before closing down the North Tonawanda plant in New York around 1975.

One of those decent working machines happened to be the model "1050". This was sort of a salute to Wurlitzer's hey day of flashy "Bubblers" designed by Paul Fuller in the '40s.

It was a nice looking, good working unit but didn't necessarily sell very well. By 1977 after JUKEBOXES UNLIMITED ® relocated to West Los Angeles, I was offered 10 of these units brand new in the crate for $1600 each.

By now Wurlitzer had sold the rights to build the "1050" in Mexico. It was called the "Soñata". This was an extremely bad reproduction of the "1050", made cheaply and assembled poorly. Personally they're "junk" to me.

Some unscrupulous sellers would swap the front glass that shown the "Soñata" name with one that said Wurlitzer in an attempt to pawn them off to unsuspecting buyers.
At this same time an Arizona restaurant chain, Googie's, approached JUKEBOXES UNLIMITED ® to install nostalgic looking jukeboxes in their many locations.

Although I offered them the Wurlitzer's, they opted for the new "Soñatas". I had the first 3 drop shipped to Phoenix where it took me an entire day to make one of them work out of the three. The buyer cancelled the remaining order. Enough said about the "Soñata" here.

Back to the "1050". At this time JUKEBOXES UNLIMITED ® was making a rather sizable splash in its new digs in Los Angeles. Numerous print articles and radio interviews brought us to the attention of the producers of a local TV program featuring Regis Philbin.

I brought a "1050" on his show and told Regis this was going to be a machine that would increase in value dramatically in the next few years to at least $5,000. I was offering that one for $3500.

A day or so later a lady comes into JUKEBOXES UNLIMITED ® and wants to buy a jukebox for her celebrity husband, but it has to be a good investment. I sell her the "1050". Some day I'll have to tell you the story of that Christmas Eve delivery.

Later I ran across 2 real nice "1050’s" in Tucson, AZ, one of which I took home for myself. Then the bottom fell out for the "1050" with Wurlitzer's introduction in 1988-89 of the "O.M.T." (One More Time) built in Germany.

This was a sweet reproduction of the famous 1015 of 1946. All of a sudden the "1050" lost its value and although a few were offered to JUKEBOXES UNLIMITED ® , none were purchased. In fact I sold my own and the other one right away.

Now we come up to present. In all our years in business, I believe we've only had 3 "1050" go through the company. In comparison, we've probably sold 300 or 400 of the Seeburg model "C". Off hand, I’d say "1050's" are awful dang rare.

The one we have now was purchased brand new for a home in fashionable Encino, CA. It is absolutely immaculate. Cabinet parts that would normally show wear are like new. This machine has never had a coin run through it and the clean cash bag reflects it.

The playmeter reads 004259 and there's no doubt those are the true numbers. It's one thing to find one of these for sale at a lower price, but to find one as immaculate as this is a rare find.

If you're like the celebrity back in 1978, looking for an investment jukebox that will, at the same time, give you years of enjoyment, this is the unit. We don't think you’ll find a cleaner, better working "1050" anywhere. And tell us this isn't a beauty? - Don