Share Your Jukebox Experiences
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| A Trip Home
This is not just a "jukebox" experience, it's a "Wurlitzer" experience. Wurlitzer "park" in North Tonawanda was my playground. At the end of the beautiful drive that led to the Wurlitzer factory, across Erie Avenue, on the corner of Erie & Ellwood sits my young childhood home. I remember the plant when it was beautiful, with large gold fish ponds and flowers lining the road to its doors. My sister and I rode bikes up and down that road almost every day...just for fun or to meet our mother and other family members that worked at Wurlitzer. It was a beautiful place for a factory. I always remember that looked like a huge old-fashioned high school. Whenever I meet people who have lived or visited that area, I ask if they know where the old plant was. If they say yes, I tell them that they know exactly where my house was...right at the end of the Wurlitzer boulevard.... Thanks for the memories!! Sally A. Frankenberger |
| My Dad Was a Wurlitzer Dealer!!!
My younger sister stated it very well earlier. I would just like to add that I am 56 years old, and when I was younger (between 5 and 15) I would play singer in the basement recreation room to the songs that played on the jukebox. It sparked my creativity and imagination for life, and I still like to play. |
| My Uncle's Wurlitzer
I have always loved jukeboxes since I was young. My uncle had a Wurlitzer 1015 bubbler. Well, this was in the 60's and jukeboxes had gotten pretty ugly and most people didn't want them so he sold it for 200 dollars. I never found out who he sold it to. Annonymous |
| I Am Still Hunting Jukeboxes
When I grew up I lived in a house next to a little cafe where they had a Seeburg model V 200 jukebox, which was really clean and was playing all day. When I came out of school, I opened an antique store and I bought a Wurlitzer jukebox to play in the store. Customers who entered the shop asked me if it was for sale. Because I did not want to sell the machine, I started buying more jukeboxes to re-sell. After 15 years I closed the antique store and started a fifties store in Holland Europe and continue to travel all of over the U.S.A. to find and purchase jukeboxes, related items, coke machines, slot machines, trade stimulators and all kind of collectables and decoration. After almost 20 years of hunting jukeboxes, etc. I'm still looking for these items and also buy complete collections. When i was little I was called Benny, when i grew up my name was Ben, but now the company name is Bennies Fifties, they call me Benny again, so you can imagine that I feel really young again. Maybe you can help to keep this going . |
| Wurlitzer-North Tonawanda
My memories of Wurlitzer go back to North Tonawanda when my Grandfather, Joseph Moskal, worked for Wurlitzer. I will always remembers visits to the fish pond in the front gardens of the factory and, of course, the visit to the lobby where a jukebox would be on "free play". I remember Mr. Farney Wurlitzer, the "family" of those who worked for Wurlitzer and the many Wurlitzer jukeboxes that could be found in every bar, restaurant and club in North Tonawanda. Wurlitzer set a standard that could not be beat. |
| Jukebox Dreams
Ever since I can remember there were those beautiful Wurlitzer Jukeboxes in the resturant my dad took me to when I was around six years old. He said I will get you one of those jukeboxes. He went to a hospital that year and was there for the next ten years and later died there. So we didn't get my jukebox. But the dream is still there and one of these days I will get a jukebox. I would look at the bubbles and all of the colors flashing and think I was in heaven. But in the 50's I was dancing to the music. And I was in heaven. Thank you Wurlitzer for making that wonderful, glorious machine. It has made so many memories for a lot of folks. And a special memory for me. Carolyn Walker, North Carolina |
| Grandpa's Old Store
It was just a few days ago that I got my hands on one of two jukeboxs that my great grandfather owned in his soda shop. It is a Wurlitzer Model 412. It was upstairs in the second floor storage that he used to keep drinks and snacks in. I just got it and I have already started to sand it down so i can restore it to its original state. My grangpa told me it still worked when he unplugged it for the last time in 1956. It used to sit by a window, and some neiborhood kids had broken it. This allowed rain to hit it on one side for several years, but it is still in restorable shape. Annonymous |
| Wurlitzer Temple At The Soda Fountain
When I was a toad (7 years old), in the late 1950's, I lived in Brooklyn NY and loved the Bum Dodgers. Ebbit Field was just 1/4 mile from my Brownstone home and I still hate them for leaving Brooklyn. Two blocks west of Berkeley Place on the corner of 7th Avenue and President Street was a soda fountain. I use to get a Brooklyn egg cream, a malted shake, and a hot dog for 25¢. Inside the soda fountain there was a dance floor and one of the most famous jukeboxes around. It was a 1050 Wurlitzer model with water bubbles flowing around it and lit up brighter then Broadway. In those days that machine was worshiped but thousands of teens. As a matter of fact my older brother met his wife in the same place. The Wurlitzer had all my Doo Wop favorites on it. To us that place was the center culture and Rock N Roll. My other (late) brother used to take me to the Brooklyn Fox and Paramount to the Alan Freed shows and we saw many of the big acts of the time. Many played in small fountains like where I got my egg creams. My older (late) sister, had a turntable and when she heard a song on the box she would run down to the A&S to pick up the 45 record for 25c. Those where the times of the "Brooklyn Bridge Kid." Those priceless memories of younger years. Also in 1960 we had an airliner drop from the sky and landed three blocks east. I was in the school just below where it hit. Talk about bad memories. That was a horror just looking up 7th Ave and seeing this plane tail sticking up in the sky. Only in Brooklyn could something like that happen. |
| Saved
Like most people who love music and good old 45's I've always wanted a jukie. Having been a mobile DJ in the 70's and 80's I had no shortage of records to put on one. A few years ago I was looking for a training room at a YMCA and there in the corner was a jukebox. So, as you would, I casually asked who owned it? It turned out that it belonged to the General secretary of the YMCA. It had been given to him by a cafe that was closing down. He was going to put it in the coffee room at the YMCA but thought it might get damaged so it had been left in the office for years as he didn't have any room at home. Then I saw that magic word - Wurlitzer. (Now don't get carried away, I hadn't discovered some long lost model worth millions). Later that day over a cup of coffee I agreed the rent for the room and threw into the conversation "how much would you want for the jukebox?". After a bit of "I don't know what do you think" he said £100. At this point I didn't know if it worked and I didn't really care, for £100, deal. The next day I'd sent a van with furniture and strict instructions, get that jukebox and deliver it to my house before he changes his mind. The next day I had my jukebox. After a bit of a clean it didn't look too bad. It sort of played but I'd already arranged to have it serviced so I left it alone. The engineer called and told me everything on the machine was original, even the needle (thats why it sort of played!). Anyway to cut a long story short he took it away, brought it back working perfectly and it cost me another £100. So for total investment of £200 I have a lovely 1960's Wurlitzer Lyric that came from a cafe bar on Merseyside. I'd love to trace its history. Who knows who may have dropped coins in the slot from that merseybeat era, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Billy Fury, maybe they all did! |
| Part Of My Life
I was about 10 years old, (I am now 39) and my dad was a TV repairman. Somehow he came across an old Wurlitzer, it did not work, but he brought it home. Night after night he worked on it, till one night he called us all down to the basement. He rigged up a button on the side so you did not need money 7 plays 50 cents 3 plays 25 cents + 1 play a dime. He pushed the button, then the buttons on the front. I heard alot of clicking then "NEW YORK, NEW YORK" by you know who. Since then the jukebox has been a big part of my life. Its been at my brothers house, my sisters house and now it is at my house (where it will stay) playing everything from Frank Sinatra to Frankie Goes To Hollywood. I would not trade it for the world. Thank you Wurlitzer. Tom Lukehart, Youngstown, Ohio |
| Working on the Production Line
I worked for the Wurlitzer Company from 1943 until 1973. I weathered the layoffs, the strikes, and then the closing of the plant in North Tonawanda, N.Y. I worked on every model that they made, yet I never was able to purchase one, now I wish I had done so. My name is Alton Runge, and wonder if any of my old working buddies ever visit this web site. I now live in Florida, and would like to have any correspondence from anyone. |
| It Can Change Your Life
Well, I was a 20-year old boy when it hit me. I just finished school and worked the summer in my dad's store. Then there was this advertisement in a local paper: FOR SALE "Jukebox Wurlitzer 64 000BEF(W2700)". I always wanted one of these things, so I called the man and before the sun was down, it was playing tunes in my bedroom. This was something like the never ending story. Soon it was replaced by a W2400 which i mostly cleaned and restored myself. Then a W2300, a W1250, and some other jukes. Now I'm 27 years old and restoring jukeboxes has become a big part off my life. Especially the veneering part suited me very well. I do a lot of veneering jobs for some sellers, and they all seem to be happy that I give their jukes that good look. Now I'm working on a W800 and I can tell you one thing, it won't be my last. Annonymous |
| A Love of Quality
Being only 35 it seems that my generation has missed all the glories of the 50's & 60's or, so it seemed. A few friends and I decided to start a jukebox hire business and the obvious question was what to buy? to me the only choice was a Wurlitzer 1015, but where to get one? We contacted Wurlitzer and found they were still made so we ordered 2. Upon arrival and after unpacking the crate we loaded some cd's, plugged it in and listened to some great tunes. Our boss at work rang us to see if we were coming in to the plant that night for work as we were already 2 hours late. Isn't it amazing how time passes when you are lured into your Wurlitzer Jukebox experience. PS - We opened the operators manual later that night at work needless to say we didnt do too much that night. Annonymous |
| My Orange Monster in the UK
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted a jukebox, but they were always way out of my financial reach. Then last year a friend tells me of someone with an old jukebox in a cupboard, and would I be interesed? The only information available at the time was that it was a jukebox and had Wurlitzer in the front. Of course I jumped at the prospect and a viewing was arranged. During the wait I dreamt about what it could be, maybe an original 50's one with the bubbles around the top, maybe lots of chrome all over it. A couple of days later I met up with the machine, true it was a Wurlitzer, but not quite as I imagined, its a late 70's Niagara. True it was in a cupboard, and had been in there for many years. We wheeled it out, plugged it in, stuck in a coin and made a selection. It worked! I was overjoyed, it worked perfectly, and whats more it sounded great! I immediatly agreed on a price, loaded it into my Dad's van (from a 1st floor flat - not easy!), and took it home. It now takes proud place in my house, and I've even gotten used to the bright orange colour. The only shame is that these wonderful machines seem to have been shunned by the jukebox experts, I can find very little information about them, which is a pity. I would recommend one of these neglected machines to anyone who wants a cheap, reliable jukebox as a start to a collection. |
| Jukeboxes As Art
Drop in a nickel and a forgotten song lives again. Simultaneously the source lights up like Aunt Betty on New Year's Eve. An entire era has been captured in its essense. I bought my first one in the mid 70's. I've had eleven since. The only way I ever sold one was to buy a more spectacular one. I have two today, an 850 and a 1015. They are treasures. Magical musical machines both familiar and unique. THEY ARE ART! Functional, beautiful, entertaining, visual art. |
| Look What Santa Brought!
One year there was a Huge Surprise waitng for my sister and I from Santa Claus. I remember my father having a friend when I was about 7 years old who had something to do with jukeboxes. I'm still not sure exactly what he did, but I loved them! I begged my Father forever it seemed to get one. The answer was always the same, "I'm sorry sweetheart, we can't afford a jukebox. They are much too expensive." I understood. My Father always provided us with what we needed, but I knew that I was asking for something that was a Dream. I don't know how, but that Christmas my sister and I woke up and ran downstairs to find my Dream sitting in the livingroom all lit up! Santa had brought me a Wurlitzer 2300! I was so excited I forgot about all my other presents. Nothing could beat that! My Dad was So Happy to see our faces beaming. Well that was about 23 years ago and my jukebox still brings a Smile to my face! My parents still have it at there house so the Grandkids can enjoy it. I love hearing the old songs that I put on there with my babysitting money. Brings back wonderful memories of dancin' around and singin' into our play microphones. The only question that still remains about that Wonderful Christmas Mornin back in 1976 is... How did Santa get that Wurlitzer down the chimney? |
| Just A "Thank You" For The Great Stories (Memories)
Unfortunately I can't say that I own a Wurlitzer...yet! I really enjoyed the stories on this website. I am a 50's buff and love everything about that period. I can't pass a jukebox without playing a song. I will be building a recreation room in our basement and want it to have a 50's theme. Nothing will be more exciting then to have my very own Wurlitzer Jukebox. It's amazing, but I'm 40 and still act like a kid when I see a jukebox. All your stories have encouraged me to stick with my dream of someday owning my own jukebox from the 50's. That rec room will be my own piece of heaven on earth! Growing up we didn't have very much money and simple things like playing a song on a jukebox was a thrill. I want to pass along those simple pleasures to my son who is 11. Thanks everyone for the great memories. I'll let you know if I ever obtain a Wurlitzer! Hopefully it won't be too long! |
| Granpa's Tavern
Not too long ago we showed my dad a book of jukeboxes and he saw the Wurlitzer 750. He said "My dad (your grandpa) had that in his tavern in Chicago in the 1940's and 50's. I would have asked him for it when he got rid of it, if I'd have know it was going to be collectible". I wish so too Dad!!!!! Annonymous |
| I Grew Up With A Jukebox
When I was growing up in the 60s and 70s, my family owned a 1960 jukebox for about 20 years. My father was in the vending business and bought it around 1964. As a little kid,I loved to look through its window and watch the records play. It played 45's and 33 RPM EP's. It held 100 discs. As the jukebox aged, it developed mechanical problems and my father would spend weekends fixing it. When I was a teenager,I'd try to fix it,too. We kept it until we sold it in 1984. I've seen a couple photos of famous musicians posing with the same model we had. I once saw a photo of Paul Anka posing with it, and the caption indicated it was a 1960 model. I have a CD by Doug Sahm called "Jukebox Music" and he poses with it on the cover. Growing up with that jukebox made me an avid music lover and collector to this day. I still have some of the 45's that were in the jukebox when I was a kid,like "Oh Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison, "Smack Dab In The Middle" by Ray Charles and "Freight Train Blues" by Roy Acuff. |
| My Dad Was A Wurlitzer Dealer!!
I am 50 years old and as far as I can remember we have had a Wurlitzer somewhere on our property. My dad, Laurence Bodell, started buying Wurlitzer jukeboxes in 1932. He had his own business for a good many years. And he only had Wurlitzer Jukeboxes! He did most of his business with Miller-Newmark and made numerous trips to New York and other places to purchase them. He had a good business for a good number of years. He retired in 1969 and has since passed away. But I'll always remember the jukeboxes in his shop and the fun we had cleaning and picking out 45 records to stock them with! THERE IS NO JUKEBOX LIKE A WURLITZER!!!!! |
| Wanted A Wurli Since I Was A Kid!!!!
I grew up in a middle class town of Merrick L.I. in the late 50s through the 60s and my parents were musically inclined. I too was and eventually became an entertainer/streetrod builder. This all came about in part to going to a certain bar as a kid (once in awhile) that had a Wurlitzer jukebox that looked like a car that was being currently produced. I was amazed at this machine and the 50s music it was playing, that I knew someday that I would own one. I grew up lovin the 50s-early 60s rock n roll and went on to be a radio DJ in a local AM oldies station playing REAL 45s!!!. On my way home one day from the radio station, I stopped in at a thrift store (more like a thrift wherehouse), and there was a model 2710 that actually had a Johnny Maestro/Crests 45 in it. It was very dirty and the guy wasnt able to get the Carousel to turn, so $400.00 bucks later and a good cleaning,with a bit of tweeking, this little puppy proudly sits in my living room spinnin stacks of wax for the little tykes known as my kids!! Pammy,5 and Christine,9 love the jukebox and play it even more than I do...especially Pat Boone's Speedy Gonzoles and the Chipmonks' Christmas Song! Thank you Wurlitzer for helping make a happy part of my life and my childrens as well. Annonymous |
| From 5 to 50
I was just 5 years old growing up in a small midwest rural community, when my babysitter's husband took me to the local "pool hall" and let me play "pinball" and listen to the "jukebox". Both were a nickle a play and I think he had given me 50�. It was the 1st of quite a few trips. All through my growing up years and adult life I have been facinated with both machines and vowed to own both. I got my 1st pinball in 1983 and still have it. My 1st jukebox followed shortly in 1985. It held 50 "45's" but wasn't the one I really wanted. The "Wurlitzer Bubbler" was the one that had captured my eye and imagination and I would not be content until I owned one. Many people that I worked with knew of this wish and gave pictures and mementos of the "Wurlitzer", but it wasn't enough! In 1985 I wandered into a Sam's and saw they had a "Wurlitzer Bubbler" on their floor. I must have made a 1000 trips to look at it and tried to bargin with the manager-to no avail! I just could not justify spending that kind of money on a jukebox with my family needing other things. Then I went back one day and it had been sold, my heart sank. One of my co-workers told me of another Sam's over in the part of town she lived in and that it had "the jukebox" and it was in the "scratch and dent" section. I made a call to Sam's and sure enough it had been put in the scratch and dent but that person didn't know the price. I made the decision as I hung up the phone I was going to go over there and take "x" number of dollars with me. If it was meant to be then I would buy it (meaning if I had enough $$$$$)! I drove faster than I should have and got to the store. Had a very diffcult time getting anyone to wait on me, finally got the assistant manager to wait on me and told her I was interested in the "jukebox" in the scratch and dent section. I had already checked it out and my heart was pounding because it was so beautiful! Her response was "We have been wanting to gid rid of that for awhile. Are you the guy that called me earlier from Beaumount?". My heart sank "No, I'm not the guy...what does that mean?". "1st come 1st serve", was her response. Much to my surprise the price was even less than I had anticipated and they were helpful in getting it loaded in the truck that I had borrowed. I drove sooo carefully getting home!! It was and is a dream come true. There is hardly a day that passes that I don't listen to my 50's & 60's collection on my "Wurlitzer Bubbler". And each and every time it is turned on, and the lights and bubbles turn on, so does "the little boy" inside of me. |
| My Grandfather's Jukebox , My Spaceship...
When I was growing up, going to my grandfather's house was always a treat. In his backroom was a Wurltizer Model 800. With it's sliding coin levers and push button controls it provided hours of entertainment. It also served as my imaginary spaceship. That was 1979, twenty years ago, little did I know the jukebox's fate... I began to become intrested in jukeboxes. My old landlord had several jukeboxes at his home. I told him, "My gradfather owns an old broken jukebox." I also told him it was a Wurlitzer. After showing me a picture of the Model 800, I told him "That's it!" He couldn't believe it. He said,"Go get that box"...Well $4,000 later I have a fully restored working Model 800. It is the most beautiful thing I own, plus its a family heirloom. My grandfather said he bought it in the 60's for $50 from a nightclub going out of business here in Dallas. |
| Back in the 50's
We found a wurlitzer in a local antique shop, after having it in our kitchen for six months we decided to build a custom home, we take our jukebox to local shows as we have a couple of 57 Chevy's, so of course we have a complete 50's theme in our 25' X 32' family room, our Wurlitzer is filled with all our favorite music and were hoping to buy the Elvis one next. |
| Passed down Generation to Generation
I currently own a Wurlitzer 2150 jukebox. It was given to me by my father 5 years ago. He bought it in 1970. From who? He can't remember. It is one of the most cherished possessions I own. I can remember playing "new" Elvis or Charley Pride records. Of course he rigged it for free play. My sister and I played it for hours on end. Now, my kids play it for hours on end. I just thought I would share this story with whomever wished to hear it. I'll never get rid of it. I'll pass it to one of my children, When I feel he or she will appreciate it, like I do. |
| The Barber Shop Jukebox
My first experience with a jukebox came hand in hand with my first haircut around 1972. It was around time for me to receive my first haircuts, and like all little kids, I didn't want to go. I finally wound up in the barber's chair squirming to get out. The shop had a jukebox that displayed the turntable mechanism through the glass. My father distracted me by starting up the jukebox and I was amazed at how the record seemed to magically roll from a dark hole and lay down on the turntable and start playing. That caught my attention long enough for the barber to cut my hair. The barber then gave me my first 45 RPM, (THANK YOU FOR LETTIN' ME BE MYSELF-BY SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE), and from that point on, I've been captivated with Jukeboxes, and how they work. |
| Growing Up In The Disco Era, But Listening To Swing!
I can still remember the sound of putting nickles in our old Wurlitzer jukebox. It spun 78's and released bubbles up the side of the machine. I was growing up in the late 1970's and was lucky enough to be influenced by the music of the 30's and 40's. I remember the cold Fall evening my Dad told us we had to help him run a errand. He strapped up a flat bed trailer and grabbed a refrigerator cart and drove out 30 miles to get that machine. I kept my eye on it the whole way home time looking out the back window of our car wondering what it might sound and look like all lit up. My father still has the jukebox and everytime I see it it brings back a flood of memories. All the songs I listened to with my friends growing up like Benny Goodman and Frank Sinatra make me feel like a little girl again. I'm happy to see that swing has made a come-back! Annonymous |
| Ride'm Cowboys
Our father had a model 1015 in our basement when my brother, sister and I were growing up. He had somehow rigged it so that you did not have to pay to play. I have many memories of dancing to the ~5 records he had, particularly to "Dinah Blow your Horn". However, the best times were when we were big enough to climb on top of the cabinet and ride our "horsie" while listening to our songs. Mom never found out about our horse rides. |
| Rembering The Old Times
I am 73 years of age and the first job I had was a repair man for Wurlitzer Jukeboxes. They played the old 78" records. Your web page brings back many memories. |
| Electic Light Orchestra
In the late seventies I bought a couple of ELO albums and would play them for hours after school. One of the things I liked about the group was their fascinating circular logo. It had almost a glowing art deco quality to it. I would draw the logo in my notebooks to pass the time in study hall. A few years later I went to a party at a wealthy persons home and they had rented a Wurlitzer jukebox. As I stared at the beautiful piece of mechanical art, with it's changing lights and hypnotizing bubbles I finally understood ELO's symbol! It was the top of the jukebox. Elementary you say, jukebox experts. No jukeboxes in my Connecticut town looked like this one. Our pizza joints only had the big square models. Maybe models of efficiency with 200 selections, but not much to look at. Since then a CD playing Wurlitzer is on my list. |
| My Dad's Unexpected Weekend-Trip
I must have been about 14 years old when I collected pictures and drawings of jukeboxes. One day my father called my mother and I to go on a 'weekend-trip'. Now, if you know my father, you would know that this was a rather unexpected happening. Never before had we been out because of his intention. And even stranger, on this so-called weekend-trip-for-one-day he took a trailer to go behind the car. Despite our persistent questions on what the trailer was for, my mysteriously smiling father would not answer. We drove for about an hour and a half before coming to a small street with some garage boxes. My dad parked the car at the beginning of the street, so we had to walk to our still unknown day-trip destination...a garage box in the back of some small street across the country. But what a breath-taking experience it would turn out to be! The garage door opened as we approached and the garage appeared to be stuffed with jukeboxes and cola vending machines!!! YES!!! WE were buying a JUKEBOX!!! Up to this day (I'm now 28 years old) I still get a warm feeling remembering that day, and the idea that my old jukebox picture and drawing collection has been the cause of our family's love for jukeboxes. A love (and addiction) that has grown to become a fabulous collection of up to seven different beautifully restored (by my father) jukeboxes. So, thanks dad, love you very much! Tamara Brandenburg, Holland |
| An Old Friend Out My Window
I have always loved the feel of the 50's. I am 17, and am the only one in my school that knows every Bing Crosby song by heart. Jukeboxes were always a symbol of the great 50's period to me. I don't own one, but I always loved to listen to them when I found one in working condition in a restaurant. Growing up, I always used to day dream while looking out the window of my house at a tall "tower" just behind my neighbor's house. I later came to know that it was the Wurlitzer factory. At night now, you can see the big Wurlitzer sign sparkle in the sky from my front window. I feel very fortunate to have grown up so close to such an important place of history. Home and birthplace to some of America's best and most renownd jukeboxes!! Living in Wurlitzer Park is wonderul, and that Wurlitzer building will always be apart of me no matter where I go! Annonymous |
| Jeffrey And The Amazing Wurlitzer 1015
In the early 1960's my wife Shirley and I were fixing up a rec room in the basement of our home. One day a household auction bill in the local shopper listed a Wurlitzer Jukebox with some records. We thought it would be a neat addition to our rec room. It was decided that Shirley, who had never bid at an auction before, would attend the auction and put a bid in on it. I said "Don't go over $10.00." (Being young marrieds with two small children most of our money went more to necessities.) A short time later she called me at work and said "Come get your jukebox." I asked what she had to pay for it. She said "Don't get mad but I went to $12.50." I and a friend from work picked up the jukebox and hauled it into my basement. We plugged it in and the darn thing worked! It had a little hum in it and a few other quirks but we used it for parties and just to look at and enjoy. Our youngest son, Jeffrey, who wasn't even born when we bought the box, started to take an interest in the jukebox about the time he entered high school. He wrote to Wurlitzer in New York and they referred him to a mail order house in Iowa. He obtained a manual and spent considerable time studying that book. One evening I went down into the rec room and found that he had that whole thing apart. And I mean 'all apart'! He had pieces all over the basement. I said "Well, that's the end of that thing, you'll never get it all back together." He said "Dad, not to worry, it isn't that complicated." Sure enough he cleaned all the parts and had them back together and it played better than it had before. He ordered replacement parts for those that were worn and installed them. He bought new colored cylinders and put them in and repainted the audio components. His new girlfriend, Pam, also took an interest in the box and they spent many weekend dates just working on that jukebox. I worked at the local radio station at the time and when the switch was made from 78 rpm's to 45's, I was able to take hundreds of the old 78's home and play them on the jukebox. Jeffrey and Pam have married and the jukebox is prominently displayed in the living room of their house in St. Louis Park, MN. They have two little girls, aged 6 and 4, and what a joy it is to give them each a nickel to put into the jukebox, punch in their favorite tune, then see them watch in wonder as the Wurlitzer 1015 comes alive with its color and the arm puts the record on the turntable and the music plays and the little girls dance. Then my mind goes back those many years before when down in the basement this very jukebox was spread out all over the basement floor and the young man says "not to worry Dad, it's not that complicated." What a deal for $12.50! Annonymous |
| Remembering Wurlitzer Model 61
It is from the Model 61 in a Minnesota Resort that I have my most profound memories. I first heard "Fats" Waller, Glen Gray, Harry James, Jimmy Dorsey and many others on this machine. The Model 61 holds me in sentimental reverence and has for most of my life. Now, I have upwards of 8,000 78rpm records with which no known force on earth could separate me. Because of that 61, I presently have the recordings of ALL of the above, believe it or not! Someday, I hope to own another Model 61. Annonymous |
| Wurlitzer Man
During my travels on the worldwide web I came across your beautiful site. I always have loved the 50's and 60's when the world still seemed to be good, with great songs that would mark the era for many years to come. Wurlitzer jukeboxes contributed their share to that magnificient period in time. The model 1015 not only seemed to fit the mentioned 50's and 60's but is still very popular nowadays and probably will be forever. Unfortunately I haven't the finance to buy an original Wurlitzer but dreams are for free.
Some technical data of my Wurlitzer Man Jukebox:
All of the above are powered by 4 motorcycle batteries with a total of 18 ah carried in a bodywarmer. Power supply lasts about 3 hours and is refreshed with newly charged batteries once a night. The costume weights about 15 kg. Unfortunately it was to difficult to make the bubble tubes, but I'm always looking for new gadgets to attach to it. The first year my creation didn't have a money slot, so people wanted to put the money in my mouth. The next year it had a slot and I was able to raise money with my act. The money I collect every year goes to charity. Although every year it costs me some money to repair it if something broke during the carnival. On of my wishes is to have a battery belt (like professional camaramen use). A belt would be more comfortable to wear instead of the bodywarmer stuffed with battaries. Another feature that would be great is a MD player (direct access) so I could actually play the song people would like to hear. Now people get the song where the tape is positioned. Meanwhile I'm very well known in my town with carnival and people would miss me if I didn't attend each year. My creation has been on local and national tv during the years. It has become an eyecatcher and I'm trying to do my best to promote Wurlitzer's image as best as possible. I would like to hear from you what you think of my Wurlitzer creation?Am I the only one you know of who likes to dress up as a Wurlitzer? People of Wurlitzer keep up the good work and keep making those wonderful products of yours for many years to come. Yours faithfully, |
| A Jukebox Can Hide Another One
My story started five years ago when I was a student at a university close to Paris. I was always facinated with jukeboxes and dreamt of having my own. I saw an ad in the paper with pinball machines and jukeboxes for sale. At the dealer's, I saw in a cold (it was in December 1994), dusty, and dark room, two Wurlitzer jukeboxes. It seemed that these two jukes had the same grey color because of the dust! The old and nice dealer told me "These jukes are not playing any longer, parts are missing" I explained to him that my dream was to have my own jukebox automatically playing songs that I wanted it to hear. I agreed to pay a very good price for the two jukeboxes because the man, who was going to be a retired in a few months, understood my goal: one juke for the spare parts and the other one to repair. He explained to me that the same day he refused selling one jukebox (Baltic) because the buyer wanted the juke to become a piece of furniture in which he could store bottles. Now I've got two Wurlitzer jukeboxes because there were no parts missing. I only needed to oil the mechanisms, to connect the wires, and some minor stuff. My dream comes true twice. |
| My Beautiful Centennial
Some 10 years ago I met a man called Gerard. He had this remarkable passion for jukeboxes. I visited him a few times and admired his self-restored machines, real beauty's! He told me about these wonderful jukeboxes. In the mean time I began to read all about jukeboxes and the wish to have one of my own grew stronger and stronger. Gerard found me a Wurlitzer 1900, which he restored with real craftmanship. It took almost 1 1/2 years, but now there's a beautiful Centennial playing my favourite records in my livingroom in Roosendaal, Holland. The enclosed maintenance-card told me that the jukebox had it's last stand in "the Dollar-bar" at Youngsville. I couldn't find out in which state this place is. |
| Wishes Come True
For as long as I could remember, I'd dreamed of owning a Wurlitzer Jukebox. I'd watch game shows on t.v. where contestants would win appliances, cars, even money, but I TRULY envied those who, on occasion, would win a Wurlitzer Jukebox. Then one Christmas, my then boyfriend (and now husband) came home with "a big surprise". He'd found an old Wurlitzer Americana II Jukebox with a picture of the Delta Queen (I am originally from Mississippi) on it. This wonderful, memory making machine was battered from abuse (in the barroom it had been used in for years). But to me, it not only was beautiful, but it had to have held MANY secrets telling of its history. I only wished it could talk as well as play music. And it did and does play for me in the way I'd always dreamed of while dreaming (before I owned it) of owning my very own Wurlitzer. |
| Remembering B4
In the early 60s I lived in Southern California and was lucky enough to be part of the surfing scene. The Beach Boys came out with a song called Fun Fun Fun about a girl and a T-Bird. My parents bought me a 56 T-Bird for my 16th birthday. Two days later I heard this song for the first time at a car hop drive in. Well needless to say I put a lot of money into the old Wurlitzer playing B4. It took about 2 months and B4 was scratchy and worn out. They put a new one in every 2 months or so. I met my future husband dancing to B4. On our 20th anniversary he found a model #2500 Wurlitzer just like the one we use to dance to. And yes, you guessed it, B4 was Fun Fun Fun by the Beach Boys. And the 56 T-Bird? You guessed it, up on blocks in our garage. Every once in a while I put the 5 cents in my Wurlitzer and play B4. |
| Michigan Dreamin'
It was 1967. I was in high school. I spent the summer working in a Boy Scout camp in Michigan. It was my first experience being away from home and on my own. Once a week, on my day off, I'd hitchhike into this little near-by town with one of my buddies. We'd spend the day taking care of business: doing laundry, catching a flick, and hanging out at the local pizza place. They had a juke there. It featured current songs of the times. I fondly remember eating a fresh-out-of-the-oven cheese and onion pie and listening to "Wild Thing" and "Dock of the Bay" and "Yellow Submarine." Those days and people and places are gone now. But the Model 2150 I have in my basement helps me recapture a little of those times. On many Friday nights I rush home to my wife with a fresh take-out pizza, crank up the tunes, and it's almost like it's 1967 all over again. We dance. I hold her close to me and sing along to the Trogs: "Wild thing, I think I love you!" And I really do believe it is the best of both worlds. Annonymous |
| There's Nothing Quite Like The Sound Of A Wurlitzer Jukebox
Finally in 1997 a dream that I had held on to since childhood finally came true when I purchased a model 1700 jukebox in near mint condition in Toronto. I had been looking all over Canada for five years. Most of the boxes that I ran across at flea markets and antique dealers throughout the country either needed parts or they had price tags that were completely out of my range. A business acquaitance of mine that I had not seen in over thirty years happened to have several jukeboxes in working condition. Even though it cost me several thousand dollars, there is nothing quite like hearing a favourite 45 the way you originally heard it when the record first came out, namely on the local jukebox at a place called Papa Joe's in Windsor Ontario, Canada in the early 60's. There is a certain magic when you see a jukebox all lit up - they are like a magnet to almost anyone who comes in contact with them. Much to the surprise of most, the sound that they put forth is awesome! I particularly like hearing the records of Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Jerry Lee, and Gene Vincent the true pioneers of rock n' roll. It's a lot of fun to see the records picked up and placed gently on the vertical player. All music lovers should aspire to owning a jukebox one day whether original or the new generation which take cd's because its the most fun you can have with your clothes on........be bop a lula! Greg Wilding |
| The Ultimate Machines For My 78 RPM Record Collection!
Ever since I was a kid I dreamt of coming home from school and having my very own jukebox playing any particular song I wanted it to play, just to make me happy. When I was 13, I started collecting 78 rpm records Big band music has always been my favorite. I always hoped that one day I could play them on a real Wurlitzer with bubbles and stuff. Well I'm 36 now and have a Wurlitzer 71, 1015, 750, 1800, 91 (cd replica of model 71) and a rock ola comet. It's not to brag but I want to let people know that one can accomplish anything if you just keep on believing it. Does anyone have advice on putting the social side in my life straight, cause that's a mess? Annonymous |
| Model 1700 Sold On Auction Sale
In Belgium, jukeboxes were part of our youth in the 60s and the 70s. Being 40 years old now, I bought a Model 1700 in excellent condition 3 months ago in a auction sale. Uncredible!!! I got my Wurlitzer for only $400.00. What have you said? I was lucky! Certainly. Enjoy your favorite hits on your Wurlitzer, just like I do. |
| Is Bing Crosby In There, Grandpa?
I can recall my grandfather (or it might have been an aunt or uncle) putting a nickel in an elaborate Wurlitzer at a Long Island restaurant we often went to and I, at 5 or 6 years old, would be mesmerized sitting on the floor in front of it wondering how it was possible that the Andrew Sisters, Bing, etc. could be inside that big flashing box! |
| Ye Old Classic
I remember many a party in the basement of our recreation room playing awesome 78 rpm tunes. Sounds like: "In 1814 took a little trip,
There will never again be any device so imaginatively designed. The coloured lights and bubble tubes traveling up the sides, making a visual symphony. And a mechanism that fascinated me, with it's platters and swinging here and there. The sound was a rich, deep, and powerful bass-rich mix that solid state can never duplicate. I miss it! |
| Basement Junk
In the early 1970s my younger brother bought this old house. Shortly after this I was visiting him, and he asked me if I was interested in a junk jukebox that the previous owner had left in the basement. As I was an Electronics technician and interested in anything with a tube in it, I accepted his offer to get it out of his basement. It was a Wurlitzer model 2510. It required a considerable cleanup internally and externally, and a bit of work on the amplifier. Today it resides on my rec room and once again, produces some very good sounds. |
| Jukebox Restoration Leads To Technical Career
I grew up with a Wurlitzer in my fathers soda shop and used to help him select singles in the 50s - they where still 78 rpm speed. Then we changed over to 45 rpm in the later 60s using special plastic holder discs. The monetary system changed from shillings to cents. My earliest recollection was as a child leaning on the side pillars watching the change of colors and the oil bubbles floating up. Later in life after my father died I took over servicing the jukebox and kept it well oiled. We converted the amp from valve to x-sistor and also converted the slide buttons to micro switches. It eventually lead to my interest in a technical career where this and pinball machines were the early forms of electronics. Today I am a Branch manager of a computer service company in Durban South Africa and thank my luck stars for my past experiences. We eventually sold the box to a collector, and when I saw this site, it raced memories through my mind I still dont know what I really want to do, but my Wurlitzer days where the best. Cheers! |
| This Goes WAY Back
In the 1940s my Dad had a lunch counter in Flin Flon, Manitoba, CANADA. A model 500 (I think it was) Wurlitzer was very popular there. The jukebox was regularly serviced & the old 78rpm records were changed frequently. That was in the days long before TV, & in a Northern mining town even radio reception was poor, due to all the mineral in the rocky land surrounding it. People mostly made their own entertainment & enjoyed the music with their coffee more than we even notice the "background music" that's everywhere today. I often wonder where that old machine ever got to... |
| Jukeboxes Make Great Babysitters
My jukebox story starts in 1973 when I was 5 years old. My Uncle Johnny collected 45s and had a Wurlitzer 1650 jukebox in his living room. Growing up my parents would visit often and I would just kneel on a foot stool in front of the jukebox for hours. My uncle didn't change the selections too often and so I got hooked on great songs like "Corrina Corrina" by Ray Peterson, "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison, and "C'mon Everybody" by Eddie Cochran. Years went by and the jukebox started to take some abuse (it was painted black, and dented in the speaker grill) and finally the charger stopped working. So in the summer of 1983, my uncle asked my Father if he wanted the jukebox. He said yes and told me that I could have it because I always enjoyed it so much. Well, unfortunately, my Mother would not allow the large, broken-down Wurlitzer into the house and it therefore had to go into my "camp" in back of the house. For years I tinkered with it and tried to get the selector to work. Eventually, the cold New England winters and hot summers killed the amplifer. At 22 I moved away from home and ended up in Boston. One day I saw an ad for Jukebox restoration and contacted them. They gave me an estimate to restore the amplifer, chasis and exterior and I decided to have the work done. I waited 6 months for the repairs to be complete which gave me time to set up my music room. In October of 1993, my newly restored jukebox was delivered and the first record I played was "Dream Lover" by Bobby Darin - one of my Dad's favorite records. It is hard to believe that I own that same jukebox I used to sit and watch for hours and still do at the age of 30. Only now my musical tastes are much broader and include the hits of Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis and Nat King Cole along side doo wop groups and rockabilly cats. I now have a 6 year old nephew who is just as mesmerized by the Wulitzer as I was and can only hope that he will be the one to inherite it one day (but not too soon). |
| Only In My Dreams
For many years, I had dreamed of owning a jukebox. I had even started collecting 45's, hoping one day I would see my dream realized. I had collected approximately 400 45's from garage sales and flea markets. One weekend about 4 years ago, my parents had returned from a trip to the lake and had brought with them what I thought to be a washing machine. To my surprise it was a Wurlitzer Model 3000 Jukebox. They had found an ad in the local paper with it for sale and had purchased it for me. Since that day I have cherished "My Baby" and will never give it up. So Toto, "Dreams Do Come True"!! Cheryl Hart |
| Special Delivery (By A 60's Vintage Hearse)
Having grown up in the 50's, I had a great love for the music of that era as well as those magnificent machines on which that music was played. Almost forty years later, my wife gave me a Wurlitzer for our twentieth anniversary. The day of the delivery was special, not only because I now owned my own jukebox, but because the gentleman from whom I had purchased it had problems with his van and he had to make other arrangements. It made quite an impression on the neighborhood when he and my treasure arrived in none other than a 60's vintage hearse, complete with a plastic foot hanging out the back door. Most excitement on our street in years. |
| Model 600 Rescued From Northeast Texas Bar
In 1980, while driving through a small town east of Tyler, Texas, I stopped by an antique dealer & looked at the usual junk for sale. It was hot and the owner informed me where I could get a cold one. I went to the only bar in town. While sipping on a beer, I noticed in the back room a large piece of furniture. I asked the owner if I could look in the backroom. I found a Wurlitzer jukebox. I was not into jukeboxes at the time but I was interested in getting it. It was dusty and I thought at that moment kind of ugly. He told me that it had been in this diner/bar since it opened. His father had placed it back there around 1939. His father never did trade it in on a new model. It was in service from 1939 to the late 60's. I agreed to pay $350 for it and came back with a pick up truck the next weekend. I've had it ever since & it is beautiful. It has everything original! It even has some original Wurlitzer notices inside. It takes some tweaking to keep it going but I love this jukebox. I've had a few others since this one, but I sold those and kept the model 600. I've never replaced a tube, just a few wires and some minor stuff. The coin mechanism works like new. Annonymous |
| Everything I Ever Wanted In The World
As a kid I was always facinated with jukeboxes. When I was 12 I traded a friend of mine a small table radio for a large Zenith console radio which I put lights in to light up the speaker grill to resemble a jukebox. Since 1977 I have owned a 1968 Wurlitzer 3212 Americana II which is everything I ever wanted in my life and it plays like brand new. It's kind to my records and brings the best out of them with it's 6 speakers and stereo sound. This machine has brought so much enjoyment to my late wife, my children and myself. It has a special spot in my kitchen and goes well with the kitchen cabinets, electric range and refrigerator. The most interesting wrinkle is that it makes the best piggy bank too even though I've set it to play for free. I've listened to other jukeboxes at trade shows and the like but haven't found another to match the sound of mine. I have mostly 1960's Motown records in it like "Martha and the Vandellas", "Smokey Robinson" but also have a few 33 1/3 albums of music from the 30's and 40's like "Jan Garbor", "Russ Morgan", and "Brenda Lee's I'm Sorry" My musical tastes are very wide being a musician myself. I've owned my Wurlitzer 21 1/2 years and still treasure it like a brand new toy. Annonymous |
| One Man's Junk Is Another Man's Treasure
I had some friends who bought a bar. In the garage beside the bar was a lot of junk. They were going to clean the garage to make room for their motorcycles. One of the things being tossed was a jukebox that didn't work. Of course, I was more than willing to take the juke "off of their hands". With a good cleaning and a lot of TLC, this fine Model 1100 is now proudly diplayed in my computer office, always ready to be plugged in, and receive a nickel for one play, or a quarter for six plays. |
| Elvis Rattles Childs Brain on Jukebox
My Italian grandfather had a market in the 40s and 50s in which there was a jukebox. A lot of Rock and Elvis tunes were featured. I liked to shake to the Elvis songs whenever we went to the market. I would shake and rattle so much, that my grandfather would shut off the jukebox, in fear that I might rattle and damage my brains. Another favorite artist I would shake to was Lloyd Price with his hit: "Personality." I was 5 to 7 years of age at the time. I personally own a Wurlitzer Vintage 2204 on which I frequently rotate Elvis hits including an original RCA Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel disc, and a 3 play disc with Along Came Jones, Personality, and Bobby Sox to Stockings hits. We love the jukebox, but are seriously considering upgrading the sound system. The 45's sound tinny--and the old tube amp surges for 15 minutes until it warms up. I hate to toss out the original insides because of the historical value. My kids 9 and 11 love the jukewith old rock n roll and motown! D. Hickman |
| My Model 3010
I am only 12 years old and I am already a jukebox collector, well I only have one. It's a start! It all started when I was eleven and I got the "jukebox fever". I wanted a jukebox really bad thinking, how neat it would be to have one and be able to listen to music from it in my house! My parents noticed how much I wanted one and so did my grandparents. One day my grandfather decieded to get me one and all I had to do was to find one I liked and for a reasonable price. I searched only for about a week before I found a small ad in the paper. It read "Wurlizer 3010 $1,200 firm". I met the man and he was pretty nice. We were the first in person to take a look at the jukebox and I fell in love with it. The man was nice even though people had called and given him higher offers but he sold it to me. I was so happy I gave my grandfather lots of hugs and kisses. He smiled a lot to see how happy he had made me. I have taken good care of the Wurlitzer ever since I got it. My record collection is overflowing with records. The only thing I really miss is my grandfather who died in December. The Wurlitzer plays on, reminding me of him and his love for me. |
| Wurlitzer Weathers Storm at Ray's Place
My favorite jukebox story goes back about 25 years ago. Ray's Place, our neighborhood bar, had a great old Wurlitzer jukebox. It had a really good selection of songs, and on weekends when my friends and I used to go there, the place was always packed. The jukebox was always cranking, and we would always put a few coins in the jukebox. But because the place was so crowded and there were so many selections ahead of ours, we rarely hung around long enough to hear our songs play. This was down in Florida, and it was hurricane season. Most of the town was deserted because weather reports were predicting that a hurricane was going to hit us pretty hard and the smart people got out of town. Well, we were young and stupid, so we decided to ride it out. For some reason, Ray the bar owner decided to do the same. My girlfriend and I and another couple and Ray were the only people in the bar that night. We played that jukebox all night long and for once got to hear all the songs we selected. It was great. Well, the hurricane veered off so we missed the brunt of the storm, but my girlfriend and I (she's now my wife) still talk about that night that we had full control of the jukebox down at Ray's Place. Annonymous |
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| Do you have a favorite jukebox story? Maybe you have an interesting story about the jukebox that used to be in your old favorite haunt. Perhaps it's a favorite jukebox song that brings back some great memories. Share it here with other jukebox lovers. Share your jukebox experience to have the opportunity of having your story published online in the Memory Lane section of the Wurlitzer Jukebox web site. Additionally, everyone who submits a "Memory Lane" story will be automatically entered into a monthly drawing for a Wurlitzer jukebox poster. |
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In the town where I live we celebrate our carnival every year. For three days people dress up in all kinds of creations and have fun with each other. For years I was looking for the ultimate creation. Something with lights and sound would be great. I came up with a jukebox, not just a jukebox, but the one and only, the best known of them all, the 1015 Wurlitzer model. It took me a couple of months to make it, as good looking as possible and it had to fit my body as a glove. Another hard part was making it actually work. My first appearence as 'Wurlitzer Man' was during the '93 carnival and was an immediate success. Especially at night, it was great to see the lights working while I played Rock'n Roll music on it.
