Rock-Ola series c ST 39

[zadd]

What's one worth in good condition?

[Kilroy]

Left a message with my partner, left  my price guides at his shop.

Pre-war Rockola's are  as nice  (in my opinion) as the wurlys of the same era, but the market favors the Wurlitzer.
Are you looking to flip, or want a 78  juke?

[zadd]

Picking it up Monday . I will post some picks of what I have so far . 

[zadd]

What do you think ?

[Kilroy]

The plastics were my concern, didn't think anyone popped those, it looks good. Can't remember if the rocolas at this time had the coin tray, they do show on Ebay.
I like it, even not playing, when it is lit it will look good

[zadd]

Does it look like it's missing the coin tray or slot ?

[Kilroy]

The eyes aren't what they used to be. there is an opening below the coin slots, prolly a backlit glass with the coin denominations.
I had to enlarge the picture to get a better  look. 

[zadd]

Look at one on you tube . It's missing a back lit tag for the coin mech, it looks like ?

[zadd]

Does anyone repo parts for these ? Thanks for you help .

[Kilroy]

I don't think anyone repros, but you can try Victory glass, or Jukebox USA
and the usual suspects, Ebay, Durfee, etc.

[zadd]

Do you know what the range of value it is if I decide to flip it . Thanks

[cokemachinesandmore]

i think those look great

[Kilroy]

I'll check the  proice guide, but it's tough.
1. it plays 20 songs, and those have to be on a 78 rpm
2. there is no visible mech.
3.  no repro parts, thogh  you can prolly find what's missing on ebay, collectors, etc.
The plus is the plastics light up, and they look great even when they are not playing.
it's very Art Deco so you can also appeal to collectors of the 30

Not meant to discourage you, just laying it out

[zadd]

No problem . I like the way these look as well and will probably hold on to it for a bit . I have the seeburg b if I want to play more than 20 songs Thanks for all the input .   

[cokemachinesandmore]

Does that machine have the 20 selection tray system? I might have a complete mech from a hideaway model.

[Crazzy Canuck]

If nobody has plastics, I actually did my own years ago. Found some plastic material and put them in an oven and curved them myself. Look like exact original if you're in a bind and can't buy repops. Back then Victory didn't have them but they are great to deal with.

[BrianS]

I think those are called shrinky-dinks

Nice looking Juke.  Great asthetic appeal. 

[cokemachinesandmore]

shrinky dinks?? what u talkin bout willis?

[zadd]

Well I got it home and unloaded . This thing looks awesome ...can't wait to fire it up . Need to put on a new power cord and figure out how to get this thing open with out the keys ( locksmith) and give it a good cleaning . Very happy with this juke 

[zadd]

Ok locksmith says he cant open this type of lock . What are you guys doing on older jukes with out keys ? didnt really want to drill these out but the locks have tumblers on the sides of the lock not like normal lock systems . Should i just drill them out and replace them with locks from a jukebox supplier?

[Kilroy]

Before you drill, and I regret it, but it may come to that, try these paces.
Don't know if you can read the code on the lock, or if there is one, but it may help

John Durfee
http://www.jukeboxparts.com

Vern Tisdale

http://www.verntisdale.com

Victory Glass

Victoryglass.com

Lloyd @ Coinopwarehouse

Coinopwarehouse.com

Most of the time, the lock is missing, or opened. Again  prewar parts are a tough find except for a few models.
Drill the lock out, a replacement lock w/ cam is under $10  if nothing turns up

[zadd]

Yeah I would like to keep this thing in origional condition so I will check out those sights or get a second opinion from a different locksmith before I drill them out  . Thanks 

[zadd]

I did some checking and it looks like I have some sort of bell lock that takes a groved style key called a bell key ?

[zadd]

Got it open . needs alot of cleaning . It lights up but I think it needs a tube and something is bound up because the motor runs but the pully and  belt that turn the main gear wont budge . so when you make a selection manualy the tray spins and doesnt go up or down and the tone are doesnt move ? I asume I need to get the center gear freed up or the pully wheel spining ,in order for all these parts to move. Any ideas ? Dont know of a jukebox repair man in my area so any help would be great . Thanks

[BrianS]

Zadd,

I looked online and found a couple internal pics of your Rockola.  A lot of the components look to be identical to my 1428.  Although I am sure there are many differences the mechanics of the payer assembly look very similar.  I uploaded a copy of the installation manual for the 1428 to the Extra Stuff section of the Downloads section.  It doesn't show up yet so I am assuming it needs to be Administrator approved, but once its there hopefully it can offer at least some assistance.  Very cool looking machine.  Hope it all comes together for you.

[Kilroy]

Victory glass  may have the service manual for your Rockola.  It's chock fiull of information you're going to need if you decide to  restore.
Without seeing the mech, I imagine it has 60+ years of sludge build up and not moving.  You also have old wiring  and leaking caps in the amp, since it's doubtful the amp was recapped

[zadd]

It's all original . I checked the dates on the amp tubes , May 1939 It still has all the records in it that match the selection tags in perfect preserved condition .  I think I might need to adjust the belt on the motor or get a new belt . I do have a bad solenoid on the selection gear so I will need to find one somewhere ? It buzzes and heats up and starts to smoke . Anyone know how to make new buttons or someone who sells them ? There pretty brittle .  Thanks

[zadd]

Ok got It all cleaned up and oiled . Everything is working like it should . The coin mech works just needs cleaned to work smoothly , it needs a new drive belt any Idea where to get one ? I also need an amp tube 5u4g raytheon ? I know it needs rebuilt because it's old but would like to hear this thing play thanks

[Kilroy]

The tubes show up on Ebay, Try Durfee for the belt.
Congrats, let's see some video.

[zadd]

Will do . When I get the new belt and tube . Thanks

[scalebowler]

Here is another place that might have the tube you need. http://www.surplussales.com/Tubes-Sock-Acc/VacTubeIndex.html I use them to buy capacitors for some tube radios that I have and was refered to the site by a friend who does ham radio stuff and repairs electronics for a living.

[cokemachinesandmore]

did you resolve the mechanical issues?

[zadd]

Yep . Drive belt was ripped and stretched barely making contact with pully . The coin mech was stuck and engaging the selection solenoid . Got all that working . Had to clear out alot of old thick grease from the main gear  to get the it working smoothly . Just need to replace a few parts and get a tube for the amp and it should all be working . The coin mech needs cleaned (the coins get stuck) but I can manually feed it and it will cycle the correct selections . The wiring will all need to be gone through because of age and brittle . The amp will also need rebuilt but hopefully get this playing and working until I tear it apart .   

[cokemachinesandmore]

Great to see that machine is going to be a survivor

[zadd]

Ok I know nothing about amp tubes . I need a 5u4g . I figured out that a 5u4gb is the the newer version of the same tube . Now ... The one I pulled out has 8 pins and I see alot of these tubes with 5 pins in the gb version . My question is does the tube have to have 8 pins or does a five pin now do the same thing ? Thanks

[Kilroy]

http://www.oddmix.com/tubes/pdf/tsub_05.pdf

I'll check with my partner, but I think a tagged substitute will work.

[JBVending]

Pins 1,3 and 7 are not used on a 5U4. It is a full wave rectifier tube and even has solid state replacements if you want. They can be found for around the 10 dollar range.

JB

[zadd]

Ok . That helps alot . It will be easier to find a replacement now . Been looking for 8 pin all this time. Thanks guys

[SIGNGUY]

shrinky dinks?? what u talkin bout willis?

Cmon Diego... you don' remember Shrinky Dinks???  http://www.shrinkydinks.com/

[zadd]

Well it looks like a new tube isn't going to fix the problem . The amp may have a bad transformer . Sending it off next week to have it looked at and rebuilt .  I put the new tube in and it got pretty hot and so did the transformer . So will see ? 

[cokemachinesandmore]

honestly don't remember shrinky dinks