Chicago Coin Band Box

[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.