Mills jukebox video

Gather App
Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support AutomaticWasher.org:

Way Kewl!!

Miss Scarlet is the cat's meow! Fascinating mechanics :-0

Thank you Rick and Bethann for sharing the video.

Venus
 
Very interesting-Love how that TT works.Its a great "mechanical DJ" Mills novelty company(is that the co that built this neat JB?)also made a mechanical self-playing Violin box-You used it like a jukebox-put a coin in it and it would play a tune from an actual violin in the machine.Was all electric in action.Even read the music rolls electrically.An instrument sought after by mechanical music machine collectors.Becuase it was electric-like a jukebox-many survived.
 
mechanical action

It looks the record is rotating both before and after the record is set on the turntable.
 
Mills Jukebox

Yes this jukebox was manufactured by the Mills Novelty Company,makers of slot machines back in the mechanical slot days. The model of the juke is an "Empress" made in 1939. It was given to me my my great aunt from League City Texas in 1965. I was 10 years old at the time. I restored it with the help of my first boyfriend in 1975,when I was 20 years old. The project took one year to finish,as someone had brushed several coats of paint all over this juke,even on the metal castings.It was an UGLY mess!(I have a before picture somewhere) I also gave the this jukebox a "spruce up" about 3 years ago. Cleaned and polished inside and out(again),replaced all the light bulbs(again),replaced the grill cloth (again),had the amp overhauled and the massive 17 inch speaker reconed(for the first time). Harold Hagan of "Always Jukin" magazine did the amp and speaker work,and did a great job. (as he always does) I am very picky about how things are overhauled,and I can always trust Harold with vintage jukebox stuff. He lives in Seattle Wa.,and it is worth the extra $$$ and trouble to send vintage electronics to him.
This jukebox was the start of my "vintage everything" collection,and I have been collecting unusual vintage things ever since.

Rick
 
turntable rotation

I replaced the original cartridge years ago. It now has a diamond needle. I had to lighten the massive tone arm by counterbalance with lead weight. This then made the reject "fussy" and I had to make some changes to that. Also the lighter tonearm would fly off the edge of the record when it was set down on the spinning turntable after the modification. So I installed a microswitch to stop the turntable anytime a record is held by the record changer.(watch the picture carefully and you will see)The turntable starts when (1.the changer puts the record back in the stack,and the stack moves.(2. the changer places a record over the stopped turntable. the tonearm sets down on the edge of the record, the changer lets go of the record,then the turntable starts to spin.
 
HI RICK,
I HAVE A SEEBERG 100 CIRCA 1953, I HAVE HAD THE AMP AND STEPPER UNIT WORKED ON, HAVE ALL THE NEW GRILL CLOTHS AND VINYL BACKGROUND PAPER TO REPLACE IT WITH (GOT REPLACMENT KIT THRU VICTORIA GLASS) JUST NEED TIME TO GET IT ALL DONE, YOUR MUSIC MACHINE IS A REAL KEEPER, THANKS FOR THE SHOWW!!!
KIM
 
Violono-Virtuoso

The Mills Violin player machine was built before the days of jukeboxes and phonograph records.When the record,phonograph and jukebox came about-the Violono-Virtuso was obselete.I have a book about them-how it works and even how to rebuild them.Was hoping to run into one someday.I have an interest in mechanical musical instruments.Cannot collect them-size and expense-but have many recordings of them.Your "Empress" jukebox is really cool.Glad your were able to get it and restore it.
 
Stopping the turntable

My paternal Grandmother's Packard Bell Early American stereo console had a changer (I found out years later that it was a called a Glaser-Steers) that would stop the turntable during the change cycle. Turntable would stop right after the tonearm was picked up at the end of a record, and start again after the tonearm had set down at the beginning of the next record. It also had a not very useful feature in that one could intermix 45's(with appropriate adapters inserted) and 12" LP's and it would automatically change speeds when it sensed what type of record was to be played next.
 
The TT being declutched during the change cycle would reduce wear on the record.An "audiophile" would love the Glaser-Steers machine.I could remember PB Hi-Fi consoles also used Dual and Garrard TT's.I would like to see the G-S TT handle the 33,4r RPM records intermixed.That would be interesting.That would be better then some of the DJ's I had to deal with at radio stations.At least the GL TT wouldn't try reclosing remote Tx OL resets on a shorted PA tube!!
 
Brings Back Memories

When I was a kid, our church hall had a jukebox that they used whenever they had events for the kids & teens. I can remember running up to it whenever a record ended just so I could get a glimpse of the mechanicals in action. Thanks for the videos Rick and Bethann.
 
title strips

Hi Jason,
I don't bother with the title strips as the juke only holds 20 records,and I change them out rather often. I just slide them out and take a peak before making the selections.
Sorry,no Judy Garland records. Under the rainbow would be a great selection for this juke however. The movie and the juke were both made in 1939.
Thanks,
Rick
 
Maybe I should resurrect a hunt for a JB that can play 45's I got a few large boxes of them from a radio station I worked at-Songs from the 60's guess a 60's vintage box would be good for them.And-its a better storage box-the box that can PLAY the records as well as storing them!That would sure be a good way to play those favorites!!A collegue here at work has some JB's have to talk to him!He rebuilds and restores them.
 
Mills Jukebox

Rick:

Excuse the silly question but....what is the front of the Mills made of? The light glows beautifully through what ever it is. Almost reminds me of mica or tortoiseshell.

Of course you know that because your great-aunt lived in League City (Texas) that just about makes us kin. ;-)

Venus
 
Jukebox lights

Hi Venus,
This juke does have a nice warm glow. The colored panels are made of an unknown material to me. I have often wondered what they are made of. I had the juke tore down all the way 30 years ago,as I had to strip the cabinet then. The panels are very thick (appx 1/4 inch) and very heavy. They are also brittle as heck. I think they are some sort of semi- translucent colored bakelite. They didn't have plastic in 1939 did they? There are 9 forty watt full sized light bulbs behind those colored panels,so thats 360 watts. It's not putting out much light for that kind of wattage. Anyone care to guess?

Rick
 
League City,TX.

Venus, I forgot to ask. I know you live in Belville now,did you come from League City? Or are you familar with that area? (thats where this juke came from)
 
Texas our Texas

Rick:

League City is towards the coast going down to Galveston. It's a bit of a drive from here. We usually pass that way if we take a trip to the beach (like when we picked up the Bendix).

Now Rick, if you KNOW anyone from Texas, we're related! LOL

Your "cousin" from the large economy-sized state of Texas
Venus :)
 
Texas fun

Well.... I am glad we are related. Now I can come down there and stay with you for a couple weeks,while you keep me well fed and entertained!! LOL
FYI, My uncle worked for Union Carbide down there,and my aunt worked as a waitress at a local bar and grill in League City. When we used to go vist them we ALWAYS went to Galveston Bay to swim and check out the ships,beach,etc. I remember a ship made of cement that was sunk in the bay,however it was in shallow water and the top half was still visible from the shore. Also we got to tour the Battleship "Texas" what a monster that was.NASA,Dallas,Houston,we really had fun down there always. My Aunt Maxine and Uncle Marc were the greatest. They never wanted us to leave. Maxine would get real quiet and Marc would break down and cry! Really some nice people down there. Boy do I remember the drive back home. You could drive for 3 days and STILL be in Texas!! LOL

Rick
 
Mills Jukebox before picture. April 1965

I just got a scanner today,what fun!! Here is an old pix (moldy oldy,for real) of the jukebox before restoration. Isn't that a pretty sight?? They must have tried to make it look like a newer chrome model from the 1950's by useing all that silver paint.The paint was so thick it was cracking at the bottom. It was painted sometime in the early to mid 50's,I know that for sure. And whoever did it did a SH-- job!!

Rick
 
WOW

You sure worked your butt off restoring it! What a difference!She looks so much better! So, You never answered! You gonna name her Scarlet?
 
Scarlet sweet Scarlet

Hey Rick!

C'mon down! Your chicken fried steak is waiting!

Tom remembers that cement ship. He said that when he was little, they used to fish around there. In my technically-challenged mind, I cannot picture anything that's made of cement floating! LOL

I can't believe the condition of the Mills when you got it. You really have done a wonderful job of restoring it. Tom said that one of his old high school chums (who also btw has a "junk shop") has some old jukeboxes. Maybe he can talk him out of one. He acts like he would like to restore one himself. If he does, we will call upon you for your guidance.

I vote with Bethann for "Scarlet" as the Mills' official name.

Venus
 
Scarlet she is then!!

Ok Scarlet it is. I called the juke some other names during the restoration too,but we won't mention those.... (:

I could never figure out how a cement ship could float either.That one didn't float very well did it??? LOL

MMMM Chicken fried steak sounds VG!! Cooked on a vintage Frigidaire no doubt!!!

Tom needs to check out his friend with the juke shop! I am surprised Austin hasn't bought the guy out lock stock and barrel!! (:

Here is a picture taken on our Texas trip of 1965. The kid with the biggest smile is the one that just got a jukebox. Can you guess who he is?? (:

Rick
 
who drove what

My aunt and uncle owned the 59 Cadillac.After I had a license they would let me drive the Caddy when I was down there. It was FUN to drive. Such a tank,but it drove so easy! They owned the Caddy until they died in the early 1990's. I don't know what happened to the car after that. The color pix was taken in my side yard here in Indiana, during their yearly visit in 1964.
The 64 Ford was our car,and the b&w pix was taken in a parking lot in Texas while we visited them. That Ford was our last no a/c car after that trip. It was HOTTER than HELL down there even in April,and dad traded the 64 Ford on a 1966 Ford with A/C that fall.

Rick
 
Old Times

It's so great to have pix like that. I have movie reels (remember super 8?) from my grandparents from as far back as 1969. All those old family get togethers where everyone came over just for some barbeque were something special.

Amazing how those old flickery films or those pix with people from the past can bring back so much memories.

Not to mention all the old cars, tvs, and appliances.
 
Those old super 8 movies look so good too showing on a real projector. It seems that when they get transferred to videotape, the videotape just doesn't do them justice. They get all flickery, and the colors are dull. Super 8 movie film lasts so much longer in storage too! I've got some old Kodachrome movies of my family before I was born, and they look like they were shot just a few weeks ago!

One of my other fun hobbies is old movies and projectors, 16mm and 8mm movies. I love the clatter of an old projector, and I've collected some reels of the old educational flicks from the sixties
 

Similar threads

I
Whirlpool Bathtubs & Jetted Showers Are A Fad
2
Replies
37
Views
1K
circlew
C
S
Maytag A612 squeals for a bit when spin cycle starts
Replies
3
Views
1K
rinso
rinso
phillymatt53
The Home Entertainment Industry
2
Replies
59
Views
3K
phillymatt53
phillymatt53
W
Roper gas range help ;)
Replies
8
Views
319
weed30
W
T
90's Kenmore/ Whirlpool Washer Maintenance
Replies
3
Views
335
TAG
T

Latest posts

Sponsored
UnlistMe
Back
Top