John Burke's Jukebox Page

John Burke's Jukebox Page Single Play 6d, 3 Plays 1/-	Monthly Update \| Homepage

I was always fascinated with jukeboxes, especially those with a visible mechanism that allowed you to see the record being picked up and played.

However it wasn't so much love of jukeboxes that led me to buy one, it was more that I had a large collection of 45s that were not getting played!

These four photographs show my 1977 Rowe Ami RI-2 jukebox. The mechanism is only visible with the top up but the sound is absolutely fabulous! I normally keep it loaded with 1960s records.

Note that the pick-up arm is on the opposite side to normal - the cartidge is mounted backwards so that the stylus (needle!) points the right way.

Jukeboxes in the UK start at around 200 GB pounds minimum for a used machine in working order. If you want a machine that you can watch pick up records add another nought and make sure to ask if it is in working order!

Fully restored classic jukeboxes demand anything from 4000 GB pounds upwards. Double this for some machines, especially for those playing 78 rpm records.

There are a few annual events that UK jukebox fans should not miss. They are the Copthorne show, which includes jukeboxes, Americana, antiques, and all sorts of 1950s and 60s memorabilia, and the Jukebox Madness Show which, as the name suggests, concentrates on jukeboxes but includes records and record players and other associated items, including pinball and coin slot machines.

The Copthorne Show is held at Copthorne - get away! No - really! - near Gatwick Airport and Jukebox Madness is held at Kempton Park Racecourse. In 1999 the first (and only...) Northern Jukebox Madness Show was held in Leeds.

There is a Jukebox Madness web page for anyone interested.



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