Get Your Groove on With a Collectible Jukebox Machine
An old jukebox, like the used jukeboxes for sale on eBay, can be a terrific addition to your home theater. Many produce excellent sound, and you can even earn a little bit of money as people want to hear their favorite tunes. Depending on the songs loaded, you may also get to listen to songs you have not heard in a long time.
Who were some manufacturers of antique jukeboxes made before 1925?The first jukebox was introduced at the Palais Royale in San Francisco. Based on an Edison Class M Electric Phonograph, users had to hold a tube to their ears to hear the music. Since that invention, many companies have made jukeboxes, which you can find on eBay. Some of them include:
- Automatic Machine and Tool Company: John Gabel hired the Automatic Machine and Tool Company in Chicago, Illinois, to produce his jukebox invention. The Gabel Automatic Entertainer could play one of 24 wax discs contained in the machine.
- The Autophone Company: Cornelius Reinhardt patented jukeboxes manufactured by The Autophone Company. These large wooden jukeboxes could play 24 selections.
- Deutsche Grammophon-Aktiengesellschaft: This Berlin company made some of the earliest tabletop jukeboxes. They played six or 12 phono-cut Pathe records.
The 1940s and 1950s were jukeboxes Golden Era with many manufacturers making different models. You can find these manufacturers on eBay if you search by brand. Some of these manufacturers include:
- Wurlitzer: Originally a producer of theater organs and coin-operated pianos, Wurlitzer produced many vintage jukeboxes, like the Wurlitzer 1015, with fantastic light displays. Some were capable of playing more than 200 songs.
- Seeburg Corporation: Originally a producer of orchestrions and automatic pianos, the company also made many well-known jukeboxes, like the Select-O-Matic. The Select-O-Matic was one of the first jukeboxes that could play 100 songs. They also made the first jukebox that could play 45 RPM records.
- Automatic Musical Instruments, Inc.: Often stylized as AMI, this corporation was the first to develop a rotating magazine of records. Their G200 model plays 200 songs.
- Rock-Ola: This company produced a variety of jukeboxes, including miniature jukeboxes, counter-top jukeboxes, and wallboxes. They are also famous for the lights incorporated into their units.
You may want to consider many different factors when looking at affordable jukeboxes for sale. Usually, working models in pristine condition fetch a premium. Collectors often find the outside of the jukebox as crucial as its working mechanisms. Often, jukeboxes made of wood, chrome, or other metal are considered more valuable than laminate models. Collectors often seek models where you can see a mechanism playing the song. Those with working light shows or with ornate cases usually hold their value.