The Queen Mother of Jukeboxes

[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.

 

[chad_hauris]

Also here is a good website from a former Seeburg engineer which has good information on troubleshooting the Tormat memory problems (such as "scans but does not select") and also Seeburg pictures and a factory tour:

http://home.pacbell.net/fmillera/
http://home.pacbell.net/fmillera/

 

[rickr]

Just cleaned all the contacts and made some adjustments is all I can remember doing for the "no select", but this was 10 years ago. When I got all done, the Seeburg was working as it should.

BTW: You should pull the speakers for cleaning on your 58 Seeburg. All the Seeburg models from the late 1950's had the grill that tillted to the rear at the top. After 40-50 years, a pile of dust collects at the bottom of the speaker cones. You will be pleased at the change in sound quality, once that mound of dirt is removed from the bottom of the cones.

Will check out that web site Chad. Thanks!

 

[rickr]

For Jason

Just so you know we didn't forget about you..

This ones for you bro

Blue light on the left, pink light on the right

 

[tolivac]

Checked out Chads Link-fascinating!!Loved the factory tour pictures.Years ago I saw a Shaffer program automation system in a radio station that incorporated 2 Seeburg 100 record LP changer units-they were not being used at the time.Program automation systems were often called "juke boxes" buy station staff.they showed the mechanisms similar to what was being used.

 

[jasonl]

*FAINT*

 

[jasonl]

Yes, that is the Kenmore 800 of jukeboxes.

That website is great. I've read it many times.

Helen told me her dad had a 50s Seeburg juke for a little while. It was unrestored and he didn't have the know-how to make it run again so he "got rid of it" some kind of way. Had he kept it, he probably would've given it to me and it would've gone off to Ohio Seeburg Repair for resto.

 

[tolivac]

For fun looked up "jukeboxes" on EBAY-WOW!!These are BIG in prices-can't afford any of them--like "Hi End" Hi-Fi-but the jukebox would be more fun and practical.I have a huge box of 45's I got from a radio station-a jukebox would be the ideal storage container and convenient way to play them!I have worked on a couple of them is years past-an AMI and a Wurlitzer-worked on the amps in both.another fellow-good friend of mine worked on the changers.He was good at fixing various types of changers.Jukeboxes are fascinating devices!

 

[jasonl]

Tormat memory

Seeburg was the first to use electronic memory in their boxes. I'm guess each record was a "bit" that was on or off. When the mechanism found a bit that was on, it would play the record and clear the bit. Pretty amazing for 1955.

 

[tolivac]

In Chads link to the Jukebox website-there is a lot of information on how the Seeburg "Tormat" system worked and how to fix it.Very interesting-magnetic "Read-Write" memory system for 1955!the system would "record" the selection you want to play-then "erase" them after they were played!and with the system of electromagnetic "torids"