Chicago Coin Band Box

[BrianB]

Check this out! Matt is on the road right now but wanted me to post these pictures of his Chicago Coin Band Box. He just got it few days ago from the guy who restored it for him.

Matt has really waited for this one though. He actually purchased it around 9 months ago, so the anticipation level has been high for the past few weeks!  '>  

The Band Box hooks up to a juke box (any kind) and can be hooked up to any switchable source. When it's activated the curtains open and the animatronic big band members begin to "play".

Hey Matt, when we hook it up/mount it on the wall, I'll make sure to lay off of the caffeine for a day or two before.....I'd really hate to drop it..... '>

Pretty darn cool Matt!

[davethebirdman]

I have never seen one of those. It looks fantastic...... And expensive no doubt...
That would look really good between two of my jukes.

What sort of money would I be looking at to have one of those for my very own...

Dave

[Eric]

WHat!?! you were in Missouri and didn't tell me!?
Very Cool! Bet it'll be neat seeing it in operation.

Matt- I sent the glass and decal CD out this past Saturday.. Sorry
it took so long... Want to see the machine when you have it together....
Congrats on the Band...

[SIGNGUY]

Those are awesome... I've seen only one before and it didn't work,...I've heard there is some guy that restores builds them from scratch? or something... maybe the same guy McCarter knows??? Just for planning purposes, what does a guy have to invest to get something like that??
Would love to see a video clip of it working....
very cool!!!

[MCarter]

Not to scare you guys but it cost me a bunch!! This is a true band box that was restored by Paul Jones and it took about 9 months to get. I hope to hang it in the next couple of weeks once i figure were to put it. Thanks Brian for posting it for me. The puppets alone cost 1100.00

Eric,
I did receive the package today and should be completing the project in the next few days. I will send you a picture.

[Ltransam]

Matt , Really Really CoooL  '> .

                   You & Brain find the cool stuff !
    
                                                Ltransam

[aspbear1]

Very Nice,  never seen anything like that of course here in the ozarks it would not be right without a jug and washboard player. '>

[MCarter]

There in the back ....ha ha

[collecture]

QUOTE

The Band Box hooks up to a juke box (any kind) and can be hooked up to any switchable source. When it's activated the curtains open and the animatronic big band members begin to "play".

Very unique Matt and pretty cool.
Do the band members make any noise or just move around to music?
As Signguy said in another post, it is not about the money if it is something you like.

QUOTE

...of course here in the ozarks it would not be right without a jug and washboard player.

LOL

[MCarter]

They move to the music. This is something i have only seen twice in my life time and they needed some major work.

[collecture]

QUOTE

They move to the music.

Let me rephrase the question.
Does the Band Box have it's own music or do the band figures move to impulses from an external source?
Also, is it coin operated? I don't see any coin entry bezel or anything.

[TomFromJersey]

Congats Matt,
    I know you've been waiting for it for quite some time. Now you need to find me one!

   Dave ,
  They are very expensive, unrestored starting at $2500-$3500..... restored $6000-$8500.   There is a guy out in California who is re-producing these and his are very expensive also. It's on my wish list.

[collecture]

QUOTE

...of course here in the ozarks it would not be right without a jug and washboard player.

Hey aspbear,
Maybe the guy in CA could make you a custom one!  

[Marvin]

That is DOUBLE COOL!!!!!!!!    It is for sure on my wish list now.  Sounds way out of my price range, but I like it.

Marvin

[SIGNGUY]

Very Cool... Matt, where did you find yours... I did see a classifieds listing with your name on it I believe today when I was "Googling" Band Box. Spent about and hour searching and learning about them. they are awesome...It's on the WANT LIST now!
I once had a chance at buying a Complete "CHUCKY CHEESE" animated Band. Full working/ lifesize setup ... a guy had it set up in his house!! Passed for obvious reasons... didn't like Chucky Chees Pizza! '>  oh yeah price and size too.

[davethebirdman]

Tom (from Jersey) Thanks for the estimate. I think this will have to wait until I retire. But its there lodged now.

Matt - I hope you have many happy hours with it and be very careful setting it all up. I wish you well to use it.

Dave

[BrianB]

Here's an exerpt/description of the Band Box

1950-1952 Chicago Coin Band-Box

Deposit a coin and the curtains open and the animated manikin musicians play a tune by the "world's smallest band", aka "Strike up the band". The Chicago Coin bandbox usually accompanied a jukebox and could work in unison with it. It was advertised as "A Speaker That Looks Like An Orchestra - The World's Smallest Band." Chicago Coin's Bandbox adverstising read:

"A speaker for any juke box or hideaway* that makes any location a standout. Whole families travel miles to hear and see it play. Lifelike motion of musicians playing their instruments and swaying to the music intrigues the public. (Puts more money in your juke box -- increases bar business.)"
Basically an extension speaker for a juke box, the Chicago Coin Bandbox is a small stage with a curved front. Two and a half feet high and four feet wide, by two feet deep and weighs about eighty pounds. The attached jukebox closes a switch which causes the bandbox's lights to go on and the curtains to draw back revealing a dance band of seven players with their instruments. They move as if playing until the end of the music. The figures were made of sponge rubber and decay over the years. There is some question about the number of figures in the band box. The stage has a miniature dummy microphone and some restorations have a 'singer'. But most collectors agree the singer was not part of the original design (and the flyer does not have a singer).

I'm posting some literature found online and a picture or two of what an unrestored Band Box that is in pretty decent shape considering what most of them look like when found!

Matt -

I really like the idea of a Washboard Player & Jug Player....I'll call Victory Glass and have them add that to their list of things to do!

They really would look cool...especially since we live in Southern Indiana..... '>

[BrianB]

Some more...

[SIGNGUY]

Anyone know who the guy is that repops them? and a ballbark of price??
Just curious..
John

[MCarter]

Thanks Guys for all the nice comments. When i started looking for these i thought there was no chance for me to get one. Me and BrianB went to the chicago show last Nov. 05 and they were taking one out of a truck and it sold right there for $3,500 bucks.  Crazy amount cash !!! So after looking around i found an ad in Gameroom Magazine advertising restoration service for them so that how i got started. There is a guy in Calafornia name Brad Franks and he is selling "New" style . The guy that did mine is Paul Jones in Missouri and he has a waiting list of 2 years just to get one.  But its worth the wait for sure !!! I will hook it up to my Seeburg G jukebox and once the jukebox has started the record the Band Box starts its motion aswell as play the song thur the speaker it has on the bottom.  The players are a little noisy but it will look really cool on the wall.  This thing cost close to what a RC 81 cost.  Thanks Brian for providing more information to our readers. Thanks again Guys.....Now its on to the next MAJOR find.

[collecture]

In the flyers, I notice different wording on the bottom - did it come with buyer's choice of wording "Strike Up The Band" or "Play - Hit Tune Of The Week"?

[MCarter]

That was based on the year it was made. They only made is 1950 thur 1952

[SIGNGUY]

Anyone Know this Brad Franks guy or a way to get ahold of him,,, would be curious as to what he has??  '>

[sodaworks]

I know Brad Frank quite well. He does awesome work. He has restored about 7 jukeboxes for me. I've seen his band boxes and they are awesome!!! He repop's all the pieces including the gears to move the animation. Brad's # is 818-709-2157. Tell him Terry sent you.

[BrianB]

"It's a small world after all!"  '>

[Jim]

Matt,

I'm coming in a little late on this discussion, but it's never too late to give prasie for a well deserved purchase!
Congrats on an awesome acquisition ! ! !
This piece will be a focal point for your collection!

[Skeleton Man]

Wow.. that looks neat..  definately outta my price range but nonetheless very cool !

I take it they just connect the same as a speaker then ? (apart from a power source)

[BrianB]

A set of wires connects to speaker outputs on the amplifier and another set connects to the switchable source to activate "The Band" when a song is selected.

[Skeleton Man]

The switchable source just outputs a voltage while a song is playing then ?

[BrianB]

Not really. It just acts as an on/off switch. Some people connect it to the pinbank, some people connect it to the tone arm so that when it goes into playing position the Band Box comes to life.

It really just depends on what the owner wants timing wise.

[johnieG]

(SIGNGUY @ Feb. 20 2007,11:54)

QUOTE

Very Cool... Matt, where did you find yours... I did see a classifieds listing with your name on it I believe today when I was "Googling" Band Box. Spent about and hour searching and learning about them. they are awesome...It's on the WANT LIST now!
I once had a chance at buying a Complete "CHUCKY CHEESE" animated Band. Full working/ lifesize setup ... a guy had it set up in his house!! Passed for obvious reasons... didn't like Chucky Chees Pizza! '>  oh yeah price and size too.

Ugh! Chuck-up cheez pizza, yuk, something about having a giant rat for a mascot...I'd pass.. '>

[SIGNGUY]

Yeah... Thought the same... was pretty cool for about 10 minutes, then reality sunk in, saying what the heck would I need something like this for...
course he wanted 7500 for it as well . SO pretty easy to turn down..

[davethebirdman]

Well Look what I found whilst having a littlesearch through Ebay... Not quite to the standard of Matt's.

http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-antique-1952-CHICAGO-COIN-BAND-BOX-for-jukebox_W0QQitemZ180144765266QQihZ008QQcategoryZ13721QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[bubba]

Wow... thats a whole lot of beans for that in that condition...

[SIGNGUY]

That'll take a little work to get up and running.. but if the mechanics are there? I'm sure someone will get it looking like new... not me though...
it'll be interested to see what it goes for?

[Kilroy]

Victory Glass offers  repro  for the same price ($1100 USD). Still out of my budget, but high on the cool factor, and on my "One day I'll have one" list.
I'm curious if anyone knows the going rate for an original restored  model.

[TomFromJersey]

Hi Guys
  I spoke to the seller, and it's complete but in really rough shape. I figure around $2500 and a whole lotta time to get it to where it should be. Tried working out a deal outside of e-bay but I don't think it's gonna happen, we'll see. It's been at the top of my list, and way over my budget for quite some time.
  Tom

[davethebirdman]

Fingers crossed Tom... Fingers crossed.

[sodaworks]

I have a friend that reproduces parts for these. Dolls, gears, linkage, etc.

[BrianB]

Terry,

Is your friend Brad Franks?

[TomFromJersey]

Well, I let it slip by. I through in a late bid at $1333. Got sniped in the last 5 seconds. I didn't want to go much more than that as it needed everything replaced. There are more out there, just have to be patient.
  Tom

[sodaworks]

Terry,

Is your friend Brad Franks?

Yep! Brad does awesome work!!

[davethebirdman]

You're right Tom..

Another will be along. Might take a year or so but with patience you will prevail.

That's my biggest problem though, no patience. I want it now..

Dave

[SIGNGUY]

There is another on Ebay right now.. They are selling it as a package deal with a great vintage Juke... not sure the number? I think it's BIN for 8k

[TomFromJersey]

I saw the one listed with the Buy it Now. It has a Wurlitzer 500 with it. Contacted the seller, wanted me to make him an offer, asked for pictures and he didn't seem too concerned then asked me what I was willing to spend again Oh well.