Next to my Empire display is my 1940s Wurlitzer 1100. Interesting fact, I also got this from my brother and he got it from the same fellow were my first Empire items came from. I never thought he would let go of the jukebox but he finally punted it to me to get it working some years back and then when I got it working he gifted it to me for my birthday.
Before I got it, the last time it was know to work was in the late 60s. For decades it sat at my brother's friends place, always taunting him. The mech was in horrible shape, which is what happens to these Wurlitzer. The main drive gear (which is fiber) was stripped but that was only a symptom and not the core problem. The main worm gear was worn and while I haven't had it corrected the backplane (aluminum) where the main shaft (steel) sets in is worn. The way it is used now, it should last me for ever. Though really the backplane needs to be sent off and a brass insert put into place, which would solve this "design flaw" forever. Here I was lucky on the major mech repair as there is a guy in Austin that works on all sorts of Jukeboxes (but he doesn't do backplane repair).
Next the amplifier needed to be rebuilt as the old 40s capacitors and such needed to be completely refreshed. The tubes have all been replaced (with spares on hand), most of which are Russian but some are NOS. After I got it running and playing records the speaker blew out. Luckily there is a professional speaker place that specializes in reconing speakers (like concert speakers). Then I went about fixing little things, like plastics, lights, and getting the coil mech fully operational.
Some have suggested to have it fully restored, when they are they are something to look at. Personally, I love the patina and that it is nearly all original (other than some plastics and wiring for the tone arm).
Some of the 78 records were my great-grandmother (I have her wind up Victrola) but others I have worked hard to get. Records 1~3 are rather special to me and I consider them a "set". Perhaps some of you will get the reasoning behind the set? I love all these 78 records and it is actually rather hard to select only 24 to put into the jukebox ;-)
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPvx4SETkXA