Rockola model 433 jukebox restoration

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rickr

rickr

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A friend asked me to redo this juke from 1966 for him for their lake home. Just something for a "fun room" at the lake. So I said, "fine, bring it over" Really didn't know what I was in for. I have restored 6 jukeboxes in the last 30+ years, and they always smell like stale smoke and grease...

But never had one like this! So I started with rubber gloves, and a mask and tore it down.

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He bought this non working for $60.00, so at least the price was right.

rickr++5-26-2012-21-10-6.jpg
 
record changer area wasn't much better

Wires chewed off, hundreds of contacts corroded because of years of soaking in rodent piss and poop. Grease hardened on the gears, motors non working,all the connectors corroded and not working. Write in system intermitant, read out non working. Coin credit system non working.

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This is after gutting it, and I hosed the cabinet out. Used bleach and dishsoap to clean everything up. Cleaned all the contacts with a file, lube the motors, and rebuilt the gripper motor from scratch.Clean and relube the mechanisim, credit system, connectors, the pots, slug rejector. Going back together now.
I let a bowl of bleach sit in it for a week closed up, to get rid of the rest of the smell.

This really is a nice jukebox, and if it were not, I would not have spent all this time on it, even though I am trying to keep the costs down for my friend. I know what I can do with this, and it will be so cool when it is done!

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The cabinet and trim are in VERY nice original condition. The box has neglected, but has not been beat to death. One has to remember that this item is 46 years old. Many this old have been scrapped, or just good as parts. This one is well worth a restoration.

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Cleaned and serviced mechanism back in place. Slug rejector, credit system working, write out system working, read out working, but need an adjustment. Need to make some other adjustments and test everything out. Amazing what an improvement cleaning all the relays and contacts can make!

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A very short video of operation of the mechanisim. Tone arm tracking adjusted to 3 grams.

 
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Changer shot through the "viewing window" Rockola had a visible changer up to about 1967, even though other brands had done away with that by the early 1960's. I like watching the sequence of operation, and this box shows it all, and will even after the title strips are installed. This shot is through the viewing window. Shows everything, write in, read out, and the changer in operation. Only the expensive 1950's boxes show all this in operation.

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Very nice work. Jukes are not for sissies. I maintained a video juke (Ampex ACR25) for an NBC station in the 80s. No mice though. And sequential memory was much easier to fabricate by then.

Does everyone know that Rock was a guy's name, rather than the music they ended up playing?
 
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Good point! I found that out, while doing research for this restoration. His name was David Rockola I think?? And he had connections to the mafia in Chicago as I recall.

I decided to trick the lighting out a bit with some gel. So here we go. Enough of that "white light" on that grill. Lets put some colour on this box. Oh yeah, thats more like it.

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With the flash, washes out much of the colour... Remember, the title strips will cover everything on the glass but the centre, "viewing window".

rickr++5-26-2012-22-34-33.jpg
 
Now that looks brand new. Do you have the title boards for it? Darn I just pitched out a set of new old stock ones for a 478 but they would have worked in it. They were the clear type. UGH
 
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How they made the multicolour gel tube. They simply attached the cut gel sheets together, in a clear plastic tube which I placed over the floresent lamp. The shades, as well as the sequence of the colour were my choice. And there you can see the tube, under the selection keyboard. Thats all. A really cool classic jukebox restoration for just over $400.00 parts and labour.

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What a great job!  The color treatments are perfect on that machine.  The mechanism sounds just like my 1960 wall-mount model.

 

I was told that there's a molded piece that covers the changer gears and selector and ever since thought mine was missing that part.  I'm happy to hear that it's not.  I like watching the mechanism.
 
wow

And I thought your refrigerator resto's were impressive!

As Eddie said, your talents are endless.

Fascinating.
 
Thanks for the nice comments guys! As I said before, I would not have done this job, if it were not for a friend. It was simply just too gross to work on.

Ralph, I think these are to have a plastic shield on the mechanisim, but I am sure that most were discarded during service procedures, as the plastic shield did not do anything, but be in the way for servicing. I like the look of the exposed mechanicals, and I think most people would agree that it is more fun to watch the "open" mechanisim. Do post some pics of your Rockola sometime. From what I understand the wall mount models are very collectable. BTW: Is that the model they call the Princess? I am more familier with the Seeburg models, and this is the first Rockolla I have ever worked on. BTW: The sound quality of this Rockolla model #433 is really nice. Lots of power, and bass. The real juke type sound!
 
Excellent, an amazing transformation!

I saw the label mentioning 70V external speaker connections, such as for connecting to a PA system. Does using these override the internal speakers, or are they in addition to the built-in ones?
 
Rick, here's a picture of mine, and you are correct -- it's the "Princess" model.  It sits on a wood pedestal, which is how it was when I got it.  A while back it stopped playing the B sides so one of these days I need to clean some contacts.

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I have the option of buying the same 433 locally for $325. Works, but occasionally plays the wrong record. Not quite as impressive as your restoration, but not bad. It has potential. Is it worth it for that price?
 
The speaker connections are for external speakers, in addition to the four speakers in the juke cabinet. Lots of places used wall boxes with small speakers for booths, or larger speaker cabinets for additional rooms.

Very nice Princess model Ralph! Thank you for posting the photo. Clean the contacts in the write in areas, and I am sure you will be listening to your "B" sides.

Hey there Kenny! Thanks for the nice comments. Keeping cool up there in the Bend?

Pete, you don't need a restoration. You are fine, just the way you are!
 

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