Seeburg Jukebox Photos: Retro Electronics

1965 Seeburg APFEAI Discotheque: (August 2005) Mechanism was stalled out when first plugged in. We replaced all capacitors in the autospeed generator and were able to get the mech to start up. At first it was ejecting the record immediately after loading it, but cleaning the mechanism and lubricating with LPS-2 and S'OK! penetrating oil helped restore proper mech function. There was a lot of rumble and a wavering sound as the record played, so we ordered new rubber motor mounts and a motor coupling and installed them. It was necessary to cut the old motor mount metal mounting rings off the motor with a cutting wheel on the Dremel tool as they were on very tight. However, the new mount discs were loose on the motor. A strip of metal tape around the motor end bells tightened it up.

It was also difficult to get the motor coupler on. We had to deburr the worm gear drive shaft with some fine sandpaper to get it to go on. We then found that there was still some rumble in the sound so we removed the turntable to replace the grommets that isolate the turntable from the drive pins. The special grommets had deteriorated so we replaced them with similar sized regular rubber grommets. 2 grommets were inserted down each hole in the turntable casting and adding another half of a grommet to both ends shimmed out the turntable to the proper dimensions. We used a magnetic screwdriver to hold the backing nuts connecting the turntable to the bearing while the screws were installed.

We installed a new power cord and found that the fluorescent ballasts looked overheated. We tried replacing one of the ballasts with a single-coil type ballast but this appeared to be incompatible with the larger 30-watt bulbs as they would only flicker. Then we tried re-wiring the system for rapid-start 30 watt ballasts. We removed the starters and connected new leads to each of the lamp sockets., and installed 3 new rapid start 30 watt ballasts. Ground leads were attached to each of the ballasts and washers were placed under the ballasts on the mounting screws to provide air space behind the ballasts for better cooling. We installed a new power cord and 1 1/2 amp fuse for the ballasts.

We replaced all electrolytic and paper capacitors in the control center and installed a new fuse holder and 5 amp fuse. There was a 15-amp fuse installed which would give very little protection in case of an overloaded transformer.

. The "A" prefix before the model number denotes an "Album" player system which reads the toroids for both the A and B sides simultaneously. If both the A and B sides of a record are selected, the A side will play first, then the B immediately after. This machine only reads out and plays records on the left-to-right scan of the machine, requiring the use of a reversing relay to play the B sides of records.. It is almost identical in function to the LPC-1 only the APFEA1 uses a solid state control center rather than the tube type of the LPC -1.

Another problem was noted: If both the A and B sides of the same record were selected, the A side would reject after being loaded, but then the B side would play OK. We adjusted the contacts at the bottom of the switch stack under the actuating lever to allow the A side to stay playing but found that the mech trip solenoid was staying on. We then needed to adjust the horizontal switch contacts activated by the clutch lever and the system then worked fine.

We re-wired the keyboard button release switch so it is now normally open. Someone had modified the credit unit in the past to never run out of credits, however this led to the keyboard solenoid being on continuously. To prevent the solenoid from overheating, the release switch is now pressed to activate the solenoid while making selections and then released when done.

1963 Seeburg LPC-1B: Machine was non-functional when received. We started by cleaning and lubricating the mechanism, adjusting relay contacts on the mechanism, and replacing all capacitors in the auto-speed unit. This machine runs normally at 33 1/3 rpm to enable it to play 7" 33 rpm albums. When the larger hole of a 45 is sensed, the Autospeed generator is switched in to the motor circuit to boost the frequency to 80 hz...the higher power frequency speeds up the motor to get 45 RPM. There is a speed control that allows you to adjust the speed at 45.

Then, we needed to replace the 6X4 tube in the control center to get it to where it would play selections entered from the keyboard. All capacitors were replaced in the control center and pulse amps and a new power cord added. The machine would not play the "B" side of the record, though. This machine operates differently from most Seeburg machines in that records are only loaded as the player scans from left to right. In most other Seeburg mechanisms, when a "B" side of a record is chosen, it is loaded when the player is scanning in the reverse direction (from right to left). Since the mechanism is running in reverse, the tonearm shifts to the right and the record is turning in the proper direction to play the "B" side.

On the LPC-1, though, since records are only loaded in the "forward" direction, a reversing relay is used to reverse the motor when the control center detects that a "B" side has been selected. We found that there were 2 contacts on the bottom of the switch stack activated by the clutch lever that were not making contact, leading to the reversing relay not activating.

We replaced electrolytic capacitors in the amp and a Mylar cap that was thermally intermittant, also replaced some transistors in the phono preamp that were exhibiting some thermal problems. A new power cord, fuseholder, and power switch were installed.

Originally we had set up a microswitch to be activated by the coin reject button to give credits without coins (the coin mechanism works fine on this unit). However when we got the jukebox on the location the fuse was blowing in the credit unit due to the microswitch staying on inadvertantly because the mounting bracket we had set up just wasn't working right.. We replaced the microswitch with a momentary contact switch in parallel with a coin switch contact mounted in a small junction box on the back of the jukebox. This is pressed to add credits without needing coins.

1950 Seeburg M100-B. This machine would not really do anything except light up when we started working on it. We found that a wire was broken to the select-enable solenoid in the keyboard and repaired it, allowing selections to be made. The amp and selection receiver received all new capacitors, plus some new resistors. We added a grounded power cord and ground wires to the mech, amp, selection receiver, and keyboard for safety. One problem that arose was due to old grease and gunk in the mechanism...it would not transfer from "play" to "scan" mode. We shielded the records and floor of the mech area with plastic and paper towels, and carefully cleaned out the mechanism with Gumout carburetor cleaner. To re-lubricate, we used LPS-1, then turbine oil on bearings and Phonolube phono grease on cams and gears. We put the machine through several long duration tests of more than 8 hours of continuous playing at a time, and the mechanism has passed the tests. We have had to assume that this actually is an M100-B based on internet research...the maker's data plate has been removed.

1968 Seeburg LS-2. This is one of 2 LS-2's in our collection. This machine would not enter the play cycle when keyboard switches were pressed...the problem was tracked down to shorted diodes in the control center. We also replaced some caps in there as well. Also, cleaning the keyboard switches enabled the first group of letters to work again. The Seeburg illuminated Crest and record playing display had been covered by glass painted black...will need to install a n:ew glass plate.

1968 Seeburg LS-2. This is the second of our 2 LS-2's. It was connected to speakers in the garage and an outdoor horn speaker to provide music throughout the shop. New phono needles really improved its performance.

It now resides at the West Building. We had to completely disassemble it to carry it upstairs then re-assemble it. New capacitors were installed in the amp and control center, plus a new ballast.