The Queen Mother of Jukeboxes

[rickr]

..

The mechanical parts are always way over built on the Mills jukes.
Mills Novelty Company made slot machines and other vending machines that saw lots of abuse, so their machines were always very solid and strong. The jukeboxes were built the same way. It made for a very durable, but very heavy jukebox.

 

[frigilux]

Man, Rick, those jukeboxes are beautiful! Record changers were my 2nd big interest as a kid and watching the jukebox work kept me occupied while the adults lingered over coffee and conversation at restaurants. How great to have them in your own home! The one that plays '78s is so cool.

 

[swestoyz]

My God Rick, that thing is unbelievable! The pre-resto pic is absolutely crazy - who in their right mind would paint SILVER over the woodwork and plastic trim? I dunno. The changing mechanism is out of this world. It looks like it has a good layer of lubrication to keep things moving swiftly. How much actual work did it take to get the Mills up and running - minus the amp rebuild? Is the cooling fan used to keep the power supply at bay? I also noticed some conduit and a junction box with plug - almost as if this thing has it's very own grid! Was any of the plastic trim broken at all - because wow - when that thing is glowing - watch out!

I can't wait to hear some big band pumping out of that thing, and also some kickin' Motown on the Seeberg some day.

Ben

 

[goatfarmer]

Simply stunning,Rick!

kennyGF

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Rick,

Nice job on the Mills, you don't see one of those every day!

For title strips, if you have Microsoft Word, go here: http://home.wanadoo.nl/mwe.roos/jukebox.htm
You'll never use the typewriter again. I use the 'bookman old style' font.

For those of you still running a mono redhead cartridge in your Seeburg, Vern Tisdale has a new cartridge available, see link below. It uses regular Pickering stereo needles.

Ken
Proud owner of:
Wurlitzer 412
Wurlitzer 2150
AMI D-40

Vern Tisdale.COM - JUKEBOX PARTS

 

[rickr]

the story of the Mills....

Thanks guys!

It took a year to restore this juke. Usually working on it on the weekends.
This juke was located on an army base in Southern Texas. The wood had five coats of paint on it. It was so thick the paint was cracking in places. Most of the time was spent in rewiring and stripping the paint off.
The mechanism was so gummed up and filthy, we used engine degreaser on it. We pulled the mechanism first, and sprayed the engine degreaser off at the do-it-yourself car wash. It really was that bad!
The coloured panels were polished with toothpaste, and the metal trim was polished at a metal shop. The amplifier and speaker were working ok at the time, so they were only cleaned up. All this work was done in 1975. I was in college, and had limited funds, and limited time.

By 2003 it was time for a "spruce up" Harold Hagan rebuilt the amp and recored the 15" speaker, I replaced all the light bulbs again, cleaned and lubed the mechanism. (minor work) and replaced the grill cloth for the second time.

I have had this jukebox since 1965. I was 10 years old. It was my first antique, and it was not worth anything at the time. My Great Aunt Maxine gave it to me while my family was visiting them in Texas. Maxine gave it to me as a joke on my dad, because he had to haul it up here. The juke was at my parents house in Indiana from 1965, to 1974.

This is a photo of me with the newly restored Mills, taken in the basement of my apartment in 1975.

 

[rickr]

may as well post this too.... League City Texas....

Can you guess which kid is me??
The one in the white pants. The only one with a grin, because I was 10 years old,and had my own Mills Empress Jukebox! I remember the kids at school did not believe that I had my own jukebox.

Ken, why don't you throw some pixs up? Would love to see your jukes!

 

[swestoyz]

Wow Rick - what a great story. What a joke on your Dad - hauling home an old jukebox! I bet he just 'loved' his sister at the time! You've probably owned it longer than anyone else too! Great pics by the way - love the '59 Taillamps ;-) I know the whole group really appreciates all the time that you and your family put into taking photos through the years - what a great glimpse at history!

Ben

 

[rickr]

Thanks Ben! Nobody else wanted the photos, so I took them and put them into an album. Took me about a week to sort them out and put them together by decade. It's worth it though. Much better than having them stuffed into a bunch of old shoeboxes. What is the reason to take them over the years, if they remain all mixed up and in boxes?

The 1959 Cadillac was my Aunt Maxines car. The 1964 Ford Galaxie just behind the Caddy was ours.

 

[goatfarmer]

Gee,we know where one of those Caddies resides........

kennyGF

 

[rickr]

Ya we do! You right Kenny!

 

[mulls]

1958 Seeburg 160

Rickr
having troubles with my seeburg-are you willing to offer some advice?
Tom

 

[rickr]

What up Tom?

 

[mulls]

58 Seeburg

Rickr-nothing!The machine was gone thru about 8 yrs ago by Mike at Ohio jukebox-worked great for years.It is set for free play,with a button on the side for 3 plays.When working,you could push the button 5 times,then play 15 songs.If you attempted to push the button again before a few played,it would just buzz-I assume the memory was full???.now,when you push the button,it just buzzes and gives no selections.I hope this helps,Im not up on juke terminology.
Thanks!
Tom

 

[rickr]

When you make a selection with the pushbuttons, does the player scan back and forth, but not select a record?

 

[mulls]

No

No,pushing the buttons has no effect-however,raising the glass and moving the switch will cause it to scan.
Tom

 

[rickr]

Don't know the answer on that one Tom. I have repaired mine when it would scan,but not make a selection, but have never had the problem of the Seeburg not even scanning.
I am no expert on electronics, just know enough to get me by. That is why I send my amps out for overhauling. But am sure some of these guys around here have repaired problems on Seeburgs such as you have. We can see what they have to say.

 

[mulls]

Thanks

Rickr,a BIG thanks anyway.BTW,out of curiosity,whats wrong when it just scans but wont select?Thats what it did when I first got it.
Tom

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Tom,
It sounds like trouble establishing credit. I don't know what's wrong, but I can tell you this:

You have to be careful setting up a Seeburg for free play. Your's uses a button. After pushing the button you should make selections untill the light goes out. You shouldn't leave the select light on all the time or the latch coil on the keyboard can overheat.

Ken D

 

[chad_hauris]

If the buttons don't latch down it is likely a credit system issue...have not worked on this particular model but it sounds like there was a switch wired in parallel with the coin switches to give free credits (simulating the action of a coin). Sounds like the mechanism in the credit unit may be jammed.
On the later model Seeburgs there are 2 solenoids which rotate a credit wheel through lever action on the wheel...one to give credits and another to subtract them as selections are made.
Also on later model Seeburgs there is a fuse in the credit unit and if a coin switch stays on for too long the fuse will blow and no credit can be established.

We install this kind of system (push button switch to add credits) on jukeboxes and find it is best to use up all the credits provided by one button push (or coin) before giving another credit.