WURLITZER AMERICANA 3700 DE LUXE

Hi. I've just joined in the hope of getting a bit of help with the above Jukebox that I have 'inherited' in rather unfortunate circumstances, but that's by the way.

After spending a few hours cleaning, and fiddling about, and spraying contacts etc, the unit has showed sufficient signs of life for me to get interested....or 'hooked' might be a better phrase ! It's by no means 'working' as a Jukebox should, but I can register some Credits, albeit by shorting out the coin 'passing through' contacts, and then select 1 of the 2 'Pre-Programmed 8 Plays.

However, as I'm not sure what that means, it now Plays [ once I had straightened an extremely bent locating Lug ] 8 disks in a row, albeit all in consecutive positions in the carousel. [ Right word ?] So the basic mechanics are working, and the Amp section sounds fine.

One problem is that at the end of each play the changing arm isn't getting a signal to do it's stuff, and we have to resort to the 'Cancel' button on the back of the Box to get onto the next play. I imagiine this is an adjustment somewhere in the region of the pickup arm.

There is a 'Freee Play' slide switch on the Control Board, but that doesn't seem to do anything.

It would be nice to find a mode, or create one, even if it were only for all the discs in the carousel to play consecutively. I imagine that will not be too difficult. Famous last words !!

The major problem at the moment seems to be the lack of an ability to select a disc by the Letters and Numbers on the front, but I've by-passed that for the moment.

Just delighted that after such a short time we've got some sounds out of it.

I have been on-line to buy a manual, which is reasonably informative, with copious quantities of part numbers, but very little in the way of 'Trouble-shooting'.

But at the moment it's all enjoyable, and we would really appreciate any comments or advice to get further down the road with this machine !!

So [hopefully] Thanks in advance for any comments anyone feels able to make.

By the way we are in New Zealand. [ Next to Australia !!]

I am in a similar situation. I bought an old 3700 that was in pretty rough shape, complete with a actual rat nest in the pin selector mechanism (nut shells and fiberglass made into a nest).
Like you, a lot of contact cleaning and WD-40 was used before I got the first signs of life. Now it actually works like a jukebox, although the sound quality still needs some attention and the chrome is flaking off the front frame around the glass.
As for its not cycling after playing a record, make sure the service switch is in the "run" position, and check the switch mounted behind the tone arm. At the end of play the back of the tone arm should trip the switch and start the cycle to return the record. What happens when you trip the switch manually when the record is playing?

Hi, and welcome !
All of the following is just MY opinion--so do not take it personally--
You have made some typical "neewbie" errors here--
First, is the purchase of any WurliTzer, made fro the model # 3400 up. Many people, including myself, attribute that mechanism to the demise of WurliTzer.
Second is, the purchase of an "on line manual". Most of them are incomplete. The original factory manual has 13 pages of "trouble shooting" in it. I am un-sure, but you might check with Erwin Boot, flamrecs@bigpond.net.au to see if he has good Wurlie manuals. If not, scroll up to the "announcements section of this subject, and see "where to find---"
Third is "fiddling" ! --get a good copy of the SM, and read it prior to doing anything !
Fourth is "spraying" ANYTHING. Most "contact cleaners", and certainly products such as "WD-40" have limited uses, or no uses in a jukebox ! Limited use of a "plastic safe safety solvent" may be OK--best is "soap and water" (remove any motors, or wound "coils" FIRST ---
As for the keyboard not functioning--look at the Control center--at the bottom, there is a line of plugs--do you have anything going into the one marked "BO/AC" ? If so, follow it to the BO/AC and see if it is connected there. If so, and the "spring loaded free play switch" is not working, you have a defective BO/AC (common!). This can be easily worked around to put the phono on "free play". Just jump pin 6 to pin 2. If you want the "select lamps" to light, add pins 7 and 8 to pin 2 also--
Hope that helps--have fun !
Ron Rich

Hi. Thanks for the above Posts.

I'm sure they will both be helpful, and will follow up the tips & ideas as soon as I return from the current business trip that I'm on !!
I'll report back at that time.

Thanks once again.