Quite an Interesting Symphonola Jukebox Spotted at Antique Mall

[scotrace]

Spotted this yesterday and grabbed a photo. "Symphonola." $1200. Anyone familiar with this?

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Some how the pictures are not showing up.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Red Xs.....

 

[scotrace]

Refresh

 

[HoosierDaddy]

OK..I had another glass of champagne.
...now what..!

 

[scotrace]

Well, THIS is embarrassing.
(It's SUNDAY, for Pete sake, No champaign. Decent people have Bourbon on Sundays).

 

[rue]

The pictures work now

It's a beauty dad, but I don't know anything about it.

Oh and a Bloody Mary for me

 

[Connery]

Here is one that appears to be similar. Hope this helps.

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/atq/2665478419.html

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Well, THIS is embarrassing.
(It's SUNDAY, for Pete sake, No champaign. Decent people have Bourbon on Sundays).

OK..I switched to Jack....and HoleyMoley..it appeared. Amazing!
Unfortunately..I'm not familiar with it...but it's sure a beautiful peice! Wonder if it is complete..and works?
HD

 

[dhermann1]

I love all those early wood juke boxes. Only a few people know know to restore them. But restored, I would bet that baby would be worth 3 or 4 times the $1,200 asking price.

 

[dhermann1]

And Scot, I totally agree with you about bourbon. Any day of the week!

 

[scotrace]

Good man!

The price card said fully restored and working. The example that Connery linked is here in my backyard and may very well be the very same one. I think by "restored" they mean "refinished with Formby's."

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

Anyone familiar with this?

Nice.

Made by Seeburg, circa 1935-38, just before the "light-up-plastics jukebox" era which started around '38.

20 selections on 20 discs (top-facing side only), on a mechanism with 20 sliding trays, similar to the famous Wurlitzer "Bubbler" arch-top juke's sliding tray mechanism, but the Wurlitzer trays actually pivoted, & were chrome-plated, designed to be more highly-visible in the window (more difficult & expensive to make). Still, a nice juke.

Haven't seen my juke price guide in awhile or I'd tell you rarity & price range. Although the demand & dollar value is much less for the earlier "woodie" non-light-up-plastic jukes even today, it's still sad to know that they were unfortunately often demolished (atleast the Wurlitzer ones) in 1930s-40s trade-in programs. Around year 2000, I used to hear antique-dealer guys at the flea market lamenting days from years gone by when they would only save the light-ups, and leave the woodies out in the woods to nature....

If you seriously are considering it, I'd first give a call to the Experts, friendly guys at Always Jukin' who (atleast as of 10 years ago) would happily give out free info to folks considering a purchase of what to inspect, look for, pay, determine if *really* fully restored & working... and if not, who could complete the restoration closest to you, etc.:
http://www.alwaysjukin.com/

Someone's posted a couple vids of jukes with the same Seeburg Symphonola mech in action: (neither's mine)

Cool sighting scotrace, thanks for sharing pics with us, nice to see these still showing up now & then,
- CH

[video=youtube_share;9yxtXHIUgaI]http://youtu.be/9yxtXHIUgaI[/video]

[video=youtube_share;Q3Dj4H6UPzY]http://youtu.be/Q3Dj4H6UPzY[/video]