The Islington Tribune recently unearthed one of the UK’s truly great collectors – a local man who has one of the country’s largest private collections of jukeboxes.

Living in a small Georgian terrace near Angel station, David Webb keeps his lovingly tended collection of more than 30 jukeboxes from across the years. The local paper paid him a visit to discuss his collection, and his ongoing passion for the romantic music machines.

Mr Webb began collecting the jukeboxes some 15 years ago, after a lifetime’s love of rock and roll. Now they virtually crowd he and his wife out of their own living room. Some of the machines are almost 80 years old, and they bear amazing names, such as the Mother of Plastic, The Trashcan, The Tona-Lier and The Teardrop.

His love of jukeboxes was an accidental infatuation. As a buyer and seller of antiques, one day he was left with a 1956 Wurlitzer 2000 after a client failed to collect it. He became intrigued and decided to keep it.

Mr Webb pointed out to the paper that although people mostly associate the jukebox with dancing, they were also linked to the Mafia, because they were the perfect form of cheap entertainment for speakeasies during Prohibition.

After it ended, their popularity continued to soar, and a respectable company such as Wurlitzer was able to grow and grow. By 1940, Wurlitzer jukeboxes were so popular that its factory had “trees going in one end and boxes coming out the other,” he said.

“They made everything on site, down to the nuts and bolts. That expertise was valuable for the war effort,” Mr Webb added, explaining that jukebox factories were eventually turned over to help make artillery pieces and shells.

The good news for enthusiasts is that Mr Webb’s collection can be seen by appointment, by calling 020 7713 7668.

A retro-style jukebox bearing the classic stylings of Jack Daniel’s bourbon has gone on sale in the USA, bound for homes seeking a little old-fashioned magic.

The distinctive jukebox is made by Rock-Ola manufacturing, and was previously only available through speciality sales outlets.

With a design based on the classic Wurlitzer Jukebox style, it features bubble tubes down the sides and door frontage, contrasting with the rotating Jack Daniel's pilaster and the dark, rich wood veneers. The famous Jack Daniel's label is stencilled all over the jukebox and the Tennessee distillery's "Old No. 7" trademark etched into the music machine’s front-panel glass.

When it comes to music power, the jukebox doesn’t skimp either, with a new 1600W Peavey solid-state amplifier, five speakers and the capacity to add another external speaker set, providing single-zone stereophonic or dual-zone monaural sound. The jukebox also comes with a remote control.

The Jack Daniels model is the latest in a line of “nostalgic” jukeboxes designed by Rock-Ola to cash in on a demand among American households for the sights and sounds of a classic age of US icons – the last special model features the stylings and log of famed motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson.

Such models all follow the instantly recognisable style pioneered by Wurlitzer in the late 1930s, when the company took on the services of designer Paul Fuller. Fuller came up with the notion of using bubble tubes and moving coloured lights and art deco fittings to create a truly beautiful machine which remains firmly in the public imagination and has yet to be bettered.

The above picture is of the Wurlitzer promotional display trailor celebrating 50 yrs of Wurlitzer 1923 to 1973 which is going up for auction at Victorian Casino Antiques in Las Vegas in March 2010. In the middle of the stand is a Wurlitzer 146B Band Organ and either side of that are pictured model numbers 100, 800, 1050 and 1015 Wurlitzer jukeboxes which are not included in the sale. The stand is 40ft long, 18feet high and has 1500 lights – stunning. It was made by the Heinrick Mack company of Germany. It would look wonderful in our Jukeboxes Direct showroom. Alas it is not a practical, sizewise, proposition. Paddy Murphy, Director.

Wurlitzer or the Rudolph Wurlitzer is an American Company that is known for manufacturing stringed instruments, brass instruments, jukeboxes, band organs, electronic pianos etc. The company at one time started producing only organs and jukeboxes. However, today the company does not produce any of these.

Wurlitzer jukeboxes became very famous mainly because of the fact that these jukeboxes were manufactured with the best materials and were of very high quality. Another reason for the success of the Wurlitzer jukeboxes was that the design of the jukebox was simple and these were marketed in the best possible manner so that the company could make a huge market for these. These jukeboxes became very famous in the big band era as well as the rock and roll era.

Wurlitzer jukeboxes were mainly machines that could play selected records from gramophones. These were the first machines to become very popular. However, with the advancement in technology, the popularity and market for these jukeboxes dwindled. The company then used new techniques to introduce new types of jukeboxes that were welcomed by the users in the music world.

Today, Wurlitzer jukeboxes are automated machines that have a collection of records, CDs and songs stored in them. These machines today make use of digital format to store songs and records. These machines have buttons on them for each song or track that has to be played. When a user puts in a coin to listen to a song and pushes a button, the jukeboxes play that particular song or record for the user. Wurlitzer jukeboxes are of different types so that they can meet the needs of all types of users. All these are easy to use and convenient to handle.

The record Wurlitzer jukeboxes are the ones that have casings with buttons to hold records. The insertion of a coin unlocks a mechanism that helps in the selection of the record that has to be played. When a button is pushed, a record gets selected and then rests on a carousel. The selected record is brought to the side of the jukebox and places it on the turntable to play. When the record has been placed on the turntable, a needle drops on the record for the record to start playing and when the record stops playing, the needle lifts automatically. The record is then placed back in the casing.

The CD Wurlitzer jukeboxes are the ones that can hold and play up to 1000 CDs at a time. Here, each CD contains only one sound track or a song. To listen to a song, a button is pushed and the software inside the jukebox causes the particular CD to be selected. The CD is played using laser switches. Once the CD stops playing, it is put back into the slot.

Digital and iPod Wurlitzer jukeboxes are the ones that are compatible to play songs from iPod or a digital player. In a digital jukebox, new songs are downloaded regularly and a touch screen is used to select the song that has to be played. The touch screen becomes active when the user inserts a coin. Once this is done, the user can use the touch screen to scroll through a list of sings and select the song that has to be played. In the iPod jukeboxes, the iPod is connected to the stereo component of the jukebox. The user can then use the iPod to select a song. The iPod can be used to select a song from a list of available songs and play the required song. New songs can even be downloaded on these jukeboxes digitally on a regular basis.

Ninety five percent of jukeboxes now reside in family homes and give thousands of habitants and their friends hours of musical fun and entertainment. A plus point ,of course, is the ambience created by many of the wonderful shapes and designs and lights, an art form say some experts. A focus and a talking point.

Anyway, here are some simple and important tips to bear in mind before you commit your hard earned cash to buying one of these wonderful machines second hand from a private seller, or an auction.

1). Not in working order.

If a jukebox is described as not in working order, ie, “just few tweeks and I am sure it will work“, “it worked OK until recently“, “it’s been in the garage for the last ten years and needs a little TLC”, or “a restoration project”. Common introductory descriptions. If you do not understand complicated jukebox mechanisms the advice is do NOT buy it in the hope that your friend “who is usually pretty good at this sort of thing” will solve the problem even though the price is cheap. Apart from the complexity of the mechanisms and electrics often an important bit can be missing and it can be very difficult, or sometimes impossible, to find the necessary replacement. In the latter case you have bought a “pig in a poke” and wasted your money.

 2). Perfect working order.

Many sellers will tell you, or describe, their jukebox as in perfect working order. Our long experience dictates that about one in ten , yes one in ten , justifies this description. As a very basic guide before you hand over your money insist on playing at least three random vinyl, or CD records first. Then carefully watch the selection process and how smoothly it works and then listen to the quality and volume of sound, ( no background hum), produced before you hand over any money. If you’re not happy do not buy.

 3). Cabinet and metalwork.

The condition of the chrome/metalwork and the cabinet surround can make a huge difference to jukebox value. To bring uncared for, or abandoned machines back to their pristine glory can be very time consuming and if you are not doing the reconditioning yourself, expensive. It should not be forgotten a that much of the joy of owning one of these wonderful machines is its appearance and lighting effects. 

4).Non visible mechanism.

A none visible mechanism jukebox, ( a cabinet jukebox – 1965 onwards generally), can also be very attractively designed and provide a great sense of fun and presence. But even in good order they are worth a third or a quarter, or even less, of the value of a silver, or golden age, (thirties to early sixties), visible mechanism jukebox. I mention value because if a prospective purchase requires attention one has to consider how much it might be worth spending to bring it to satisfactory condition. If a jukebox is in shoddy condition, even with all of its parts in situ, it is not unusual to have to pay an expert £500, or even a £1000, (and occasionally even more), to bring it back to life. 

5). Visible mechanism.

Golden age, ( 1932 to 1951 approx), Silver age, (1951 to 1964 approx), and Bronze age, ( approx 1965 onwards), all produced a variety of jukeboxes where one can see the vinyl record or CD being picked up by the arm, placed on the turntable and played. There are a considerable variety in popularity and value, but generally the most sought after and therefore more expensive, are the Golden and Silver age models. Because of the prices they can fetch in good condition – nine to twelve thousand pounds for some of the more popular models – there is often leeway, provided the buying price is right, to be able to spend more on restoration of a neglected example.

6), Later seventies to mid nineties Vinyl and CD.

The quality of sound output of these analogue and electronically driven jukeboxes is largely, but not exclusively, a step forward from the fifties and sixties output. Individual taste in sound appreciation can be a big influence here. Whilst the source of spare parts and valves for the more popular fifties and sixties jukeboxes is quite good there can be serious difficulties obtaining small but important chip and laser replacements in some later models should any of these become faulty. You should ask an expert before dipping your hand in your pocket.

7), Almost last but not least!.

Jukeboxes are made to be played 24/7 and bearing the Golden and Silver age jukeboxes particularly in mind plus most early Bronze age ones, their electro mechanical mechanisms need to be played regularly otherwise there can be a tendency for some of the moving parts to stiffen up as the lubricants harden through lack of use. Use and plenty of it is the best form of “service” you can render them. ( Do not use that old standby WD 40 under any circumstances to free stiff mechanisms. It may work for a short time but eventually it will cause mechanisms to cease up). The valve amplifier may require attention occasionally but this is not usually a very expensive nor difficult problem to have fixed. Please do not forget that on vinyl versions the needle will need changing from time to time according to use.

 8), Dealers.

If you have concerns about buying privately, or at an auction, then many dealers will often offer at least a limited guarantee on an older jukebox. It will cost you more, but at least you will have the satisfaction of knowing that every thing is there and you have seen it working properly. If a jukebox has been working regularly in your own home and after a period of time it developes a stutter or a hiccup; may be one of the selections does not work properly, or a light flickers, or the sound is not quite right, then it is highly unlikely that it is going to cost a fortune to rectify. I recommend you have it attended to reasonably quickly. The expenses start to increase the longer a jukebox is left “untreated” and not played for a long time.

Good hunting.

Paddy Murphy – Jukeboxes Direct Ltd,

Following on from earlier publicity, on the 7th October the landmark jukebox adverts in the Sheaf Street railway arches were finally removed as a result of the previously descibed and controversial Sheffield City Council decision,  later upheld by the planning appeals inspector.  
Paddy Murphy, boss of  National Wurlitzer Distributors, Jukeboxes Direct, say’s” It is a very sad day caused by bumbledom.  Be interesting to see what the general public think when they see the “before and after” photographs and the planning inspectors “poetic”  comments below”.

 He went on to say,”These environmental “experts” are the people who 300 meters along Sheaf St obscured from general view an attractive and expensively restored Victorian Midland Railway Station frontage by building in front of it what Sheffielders popularly call “the worlds largest gents toilet wall”.  Read on.

  

Appeals Inspector “I consider the brightly coloured signs detract from the simple

dignity of the tunnel wall”……….. All comments welcomed below.

A Silver Lining for the Jukebox landmark ? All is not lost

On reading of the Sheffield jukebox advertisement saga in the Yorkshire Post jukebox enthusiast Trevor Potts, owner of the huge and popular M 18  lorry park and restaurant, The Stockyard,  contacted Jukebox Direct boss Paddy Murphy and has now taken ownership of the landmark advertisement panels with a view to erecting them at The Stockyard which he believes will  compliment the site.

Watch this space,

Sheffield based Jukeboxes Direct is calling ludicrous a decision by Sheffield City Council for it to remove its advertising on the railway arches, Sheaf Street.

Since 2004 Jukeboxes Direct have paid for the advertising space under three of the arches, replacing the graffiti and run-down look of the boarding underneath (what were once shops), without any redress from Sheffield City Council. In fact when speaking with Sheffield City Council in 2004, Jukeboxes Direct were told that the Council took the view that their advertising would at least look better than what was currently there.

Sheffield Council Want To Prevent Advertising 

However, due to recent advertisers putting inappropriate and badly designed adverts into the three remaining arches and subsequently being told to remove them, Sheffield City Council has extended this approach to Jukeboxes Direct. Jukeboxes Direct have been given until the 9^th of October to remove the advertising, even though they were originally encouraged by the council to place the advertising here due to it looking better than what was underneath.

Paddy Murphy from Jukeboxes Direct is amazed at Sheffield City Councils decision, “The planning department have ruled that our advertising detracts from the refurbishment of Midland Railway Station and the Digital Campus on the opposite side of the road but I think in fact that we enhance these areas. Before we advertised on this site the boarding was unsightly and ugly. In fact if you look at the remaining three arches, at the moment they look dirty and derelict, hardly fitting with the refurbishment works the Council talks about. I suspect that in no time at all, graffiti and fly posters will become the norm in this location and that would really bring the area down.

Back to White - Sheffield council Want Boring White Arches 

For many years people have commented and praised our signs under the arches and appreciated that they were covering up some quite depressing wooden panelling, blockwork and brickwork. The irony of this is not only the fact that 5 years ago the council were happy for us to advertise here but that there is also a free standing advertising board directly in front of our adverts that the council do not deem inappropriate. It seems to me a case of double standards and bureaucracy gone mad!”

About Jukeboxes Direct

Jukeboxes Direct is one of the most successful Jukebox companies in the UK. Originally opening in Birmingham, the company has been operating successfully for over 22 years. It relocated to Sheffield 7 years ago, where it has a large showroom and office. It is an official Wurlitzer dealer (there are only 11 in the UK), the most northerly of these and is one of only 2 official distributors in the UK. It has clients across Europe ranging from individuals, museums, public houses, shops. It is currently enjoying an export boom in Europe with the rising cost of the pound.

Jukeboxes direct based in Sheffield, Yorkshire are please to announce that they have been approved by Wurlitzer as National Distributors of the Wurlitzer Jukeboxes from the 1st of September 2009. This follows on from the success the company has provided over the recent years in sales and excellent customer service.

Wurlitzer were said to be very happy with the effectiveness and efficiency at which the Yorkshire based company had worked over years in promoting the brand through there www.wurlitzer.co.uk domain and Sheffield based Jukebox showroom which provides people an excellent opportunity to see the quality of the Wurlitzer brand,

Jukebox Direct Managing Director Paddy Murphy is delighted with the recognition this give his company – “Wurlitzer were said to be very happy with our progress made and this is a big step forward for all concerned here at wurlitzer.co.uk”

North Doncaster Rural Trust Youth Centre recently took delivery of a 1950’s Wurlitzer One More Time Jukebox from, Jukeboxes Direct www.wurlitzer.co.uk

Costing £250k, the 1950’s themed centre is very much eco friendly. It is built in the style of a log cabin which is sustainable and will reduce CO2

Howard Connell, Project Manager from the North Doncaster Rural Trust thinks the jukebox will be a hugh success “The Wurlitzer One more time Jukebox is something that we all felt was essential to carry the 1950’s authenticity. I know that our young people will enjoy coming to shakers (from milkshake), listening to music, meeting friends and chilling out !”

For more infromation on Jukeboxes contact Jukeboxes Direct on 0114 267 6333 or visit www.wurlitzer.co.uk