What is a coin grinder?

[Skeleton Man]

I was browsing ebay looking for jukeboxes (always wanted one) and it came up with results for a "coin grinder". Can someone please tell me what on earth this thing is?

Chris

[Jim]

If my memory serves me, the coin grinder will store credits by ratcheting a gear via electric solenoid. Each coin deposited will ratchet the gear the appropriate times and every time a record is selected, this unit removes a credit.

[Kilroy]

Jim explained it better than I could, think of it as a credit switch on a pinball machine or coke machine.
These were often pulled when a juke was taken out of service, so finding  replacements or having a unit available to sell can usually mean some serious coin depending on the model.

[Skeleton Man]

Thanks guys. Right now I'm looking for a complete machine - parts may come after that. I was just curious what a coin grinder was - didn't know jukes worked like that (I assumed it was all electronic with some kinda circuit keeping track of credits).

I found a wurlitzer wallbox nearby (like 45mins).. REALLY hoping I can get this.. I'd hook it up to my PC until I found a compatible jukebox to go with it.

So far no hits for a jukebox I like, just way overpriced units too far away.. I'm talking like $800 to $3000 and 3 hour drive each way!

What should I pay for your average juke in working condition ? Just run of the mill machine, not your ultimate collectable models.

Chris

[davethebirdman]

I'm no good on current prices but wat I do know is that the price range is as wide as the Ocean....

You need to decide what sort of box you want... What are you going to play on it 78's,45's CD's and now there are ones for downloaded music too...

What look are you trying to achieve... what era.... Then what Make do you want.... The big four all have their own virtues... How handy are you?? Could you restore your own???

Prices have dropped dramtically over the last few years... Parts are now more plentiful than ever... And much cheaper...

I've had a good box from all of the big four... I've also had a few wallboxes hooked up to the PC...If you are limtted for space then this is a very good way to achieve the look and relativwely cheap too.. You don't have to worry about sourcing records for your juke its all downloaded.

My favourite is my Wurlitzer 1900. It has Early rock & roll and Rude R & B... I have a Rockola Empress for my living room with mainstream 50's & 60's... and I did have a seeburg 3W1 in the bathroom for guests using the toilet....

If you are only buying one.. Buy well.....

Dave

[Skeleton Man]

I'd like a wurlitzer, but not picky, I will take rockola or anything I can get.

As for what I want to play, I'd say 45s..  I don't want a digitial mp3 jukebox (I have a PC for that!). Are the 78s singles too ?  I presume all jukeboxes only take singles, because there is no way to know which groove to place the needle in for the requested track ? (the machine doesn't know, obviously a human can lol)

[Skeleton Man]

Also, what do you guys think of this:

http://guelph.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-art-collectibles-VINTAGE-WURLITZER-JUKEBOX-200-PLAY-WALLBOX-W0QQAdIdZ113008585

"FOR SALE VINTAGE WURLITZER JUKEBOX 200 PLAY WALLBOX COME WITH ALL THE OLD SONG CARDS GREAT FOR REC. ROOM OR MUSIC ROOM COULD BE RETURNED TO WORKING ORDER WITH LITTLE MAINTENCE WKS. WITH ANY MODEL 5220 SERIES WURLITZER JUKEBOX"

It turns out the seller was advertising in multiple cities, but would be willing to meet me half way to make it still about a 1hr drive instead of 2. He has 4 of these boxes and would give me the lot for $300.. or individually for $100 each..

Should I take it ? Only really want 1..

Chris

[Kilroy]

Rockola introduced a jukebox i nthe early 1950's that could play both sides of a 68, Wurlitzer soon followed.  Bad timing, Seeburg brought out the M100C  that could take 45's, and hold 50  records for a total of 100 songs. This basically killed the 78 record format.  My seeburg 100G for example has two needles on the cartridge, depending on what side is selected to be played, the motor will spin the record clockwise or counterclockwise, and will move the needle arm to whatever side. Mu wirlitzer 1400 has the record sit on a platter,. the platter is moved to the playing area. It can also play the flip side by playing the record form underneath. As soon as i get arounf to restoring it, i'll post pics

A 45 Jukebox will play both sides of a juke box, and repopped 45's are available  with two singles, more banmg for your buck. Price wise, a late 60-70's jukebox is more bang for less buck, and much like the squaretops a few years ago, still  readily cheap and available because people prefer the chrome and glitz of the 40's and 50's models. 

Depending on your taste in music, I'd suggest going with a 45 box, as an example, you can get a new copy of Bill Halley's Rock around the clock, with the flip slide of See Ya Later, Alligator from Oldies.com for 2.50 (USD) . An original 78 of the same song  , maybe 20-100 bucks.  Rhino records  came out with a set of 78's of classic early Rock and Roll  a few years ago, nonow  out of pront, and selling on Ebay   for $250+

The wallbox looks clean, and you already know  it is a remote unit, it won't play the records. I haven't been following Wurly  wall box prices, I think you can do a little better price wise on Ebay,  but shipping may offset any savings you see.

There e are kits available online to hook up the wallbox your computer to play MP3 I  haven't tried it myself , but i understand  it is high on the cool factor. I've also come across  tech discussion boards that explain how to  do it yourself, after a run to your local electorinics store

K, 'll stop now

[SIGNGUY]

Dido alot of comments here, but like Dave Said,, what era are you going for?
Myself, I love the 50's era, lots of chrome, and glass... so when I was looking for a juke, a Seeburg G was the perfect one, plays 45's (readily available) so you can change it up . plays both sides, so you get 100 songs out if it.. Great looking ,lots of curves and all chrome and glass and a little wood... Just classic for my taste... And lately these Seeburgs have been affordable... 1500-2500 for a nice clean orginal... and a few bucks more for partially or fully restored...Same thing goes for other models of Seeburgs of that era, R, W, M100c, should be able to find a complete restorable one for around 900 if you handy and want to restore it.
Good luck!

[Skeleton Man]

Probably late 60's to early 70s era.. Bill Haley and the comets is a little early for my tastes, I'm more Led Zepplin, ACDC, Deep Purple, CCR, Boston, etc..

I was hoping I could find something for $500 or under, but if I have to go past $1000 I would consider it. I'm definately not looking for restored - it will be either "original working condition" or "needs some work". I am handy with a soldering iron but I know absolutely nothing about jukes and how they work.

I've always been infatuated with them, probably because I'm a child of the 80s and vinyly was on it's way out by the time I was 8 years old..

[MoonDawg]

I was hoping I could find something for $500 or under

    Of course you can, but don't expect it without problems $$$$. Maybe pay a little more to
bail out a guy who got in too deep fixing up his machine and is now selling it at a loss?
    Like soda machines, once you have a good working model the next ones you buy can be
copied to work similar.

[loman4ec]

The post 50's jukes go cheep. Basically if you cant see the records playing they are not very valuable. You can get a 60's or 70's machine working in good condition for under $500 no problem. I personally think everything made after 1950 is ugly. They just didn't have the same style that they had in the 50's. As you all know I am one of the younger members here and I grew up restoring all of these with my father. We have had a few Seeburg G's and one awesome Seeburg C that was always my favorite. We built some AMI's and others for sale and always did OK but in my opinion nothing is better than a seeburg. If you like that style of juke you can usually find Seeburg B's at a better price. They are basically the same as a G, C or W but just a little less flashy but I think they look really good if done right. Good luck.

[BrianB]

I tend to agree with Josh on this one. Anything 1960 on doesn't have a "real" jukebox feel to me. Partly because they started to hide the turntable mechanism and the because the styling went bad IMHO.

I have a Seeburg B that I resurected from the dead and I love it. It was actually the very first machine out there to play 100 songs on the 45 rpm record. Scared the crap out of the competition!. The Seeburg A was originally a 78 rpm machine and has gear sets available to make it a 45 rpm machine.

Also, when you get into the post-50's machines you get into solid state electronics  and circuit boards, not as easy to fix compared to the 50's machines. If you like late 60's - 70's rock, a later model R or even a VL would be nice and they tend to hold their value a lot better.

[bcharlton]

I hate to say it but jukeboxes from the 1960-80s are some of the ugliest I have ever seen.  The Silver age are the ones from the 50s that you can see the record get selected and played.  I live in the Buffalo area and I can give you one that you can get up to snuff.  You live just over the border in Canada.  I have a couple of AMI 120s from 1954 I think.  They are just sitting in my warehouse.  I would rather you play your Led Zapplin  on one of those rather then on an ugly 70s style jukebox.  Here is a pcture of my Seeburg 100c in my malt shop.

Brian

[mznb1u]

I have been offerred a number of jukeboxes when looking at soda machines but luckily the bug has not bitten me yet.  I saw a juke like the one pictured at a mid-Michigan antiques mall recently.  Can't remember what the price was but the sign said that it worked.  If interested I can get more info next time I am in that area.

  Tim

[davethebirdman]

That's a Seeburg Trashcan... 78 player... Personally I really like them but Mrs B says no...

I would love a 78rpm player... Most of the music I now like is only available on 78's... or
a fortune on 45rpm...

One day maybe..

[Kilroy]

I have the Traschcan on my wishlist,  but  the lack of a visible mech  is kinda a downer. 
hmm, I can order the gears and change  my wurly 1400 back to 78's...

Chris, the AMI 120's are weird cool. Fuirsty look and you think  , hey, it's an aquirium, but the sound on AMI is supposed to be fantasitc, and 120 selections,

Tim: not bitten by the juke box bug yet?  hehehehehhe, wait,

[BrianB]

I had a Seeburg 146 for a year or so, other than the plastics, they are designed quite well and everything is easy to get at. I personally wouldn't pay more than $500 for an original in "ok" condition.

[Skeleton Man]

That trashcan model looks like R2D2! Happy with my wurlitzer 2600..  a few tubes and a needle and it was good to go (re-capping it soon also). This still has a visible mech so very cool.

As for 45rpm costing a fortune - I found a seller on ebay that has thousands of titles between $3 and $6 USD (a couple of rarer finds for $10+). That's gotta be like between 2 and 4 pounds sterling right ?

Chris

[David D]

I found a good site for 45's awhile back, they are usually $2.50 each and are new or NOS, I believe they re-pop many of the 45's, the site is http://www.oldies.com/format-view/vinyl.html