Rowe Ami Nostalgic Reproduction Bubbler Inormation needed

Hi Group…

I’m looking for some additional information in regards to some of the reproduction Bubblers available today on the used market.

I know that in the late 1980’s, Glen Streeter owned and operated Antique Apparatus.

I know that his boxes at that time all had Rowe AMI guts.

I know that in the early years of him using Rowe Ami guts, he also produced 45 RPM players in his Nostalgic Bubbler cabinets.

I know that in the late 1990’s he bought Rockola and started putting Rockola guts in his Nostalgic Bubbler cabinets.

I know that Antique Apparatus/Rockola never produced a 45 RPM Nostalgic Bubbler cabinet.

So, my question is…

When you see a 45 RPM Nostalgic Bubbler Cabinet that looks like an Antique Apparatus/Rowe AMI Bubbler but is says Rowe in the lower grill where the star usually goes…. Who made it?

Did Rowe AMI make and sell their own Nostalgic cabinets? What years did they make these cabinets?

My second question is if Rowe Ami made their own Nostalgic cabinets, are cabinet parts and trim pieces still available?

Will the Antique Apparatus Cabinet parts and trim pieces fit?

I’ve bought, refurbished and sold quite a few Antique Apparatus Nostalgic jukeboxes over the years from the early days with the Rowe Ami guts thru the black amp, red amp, orange amp and yellow amp. I have even had a Antique Apparatus Nostalgic A&W Bubbler jukebox with the yellow amp but I have never seen a 45 RPM Nostalgic Bubbler with a Rowe Ami insignia in the front lower grill…

I’m asking these questions because tomorrow morning I’m looking at one to buy and I would just like to know what I’m buying and if its cabinet parts are readily and equally available as all the other machines mentioned above.

Thanks for any and all information
Jeff P

Hi Jeff,
From what I waz tolt--
AA made all of the cabinets--traded Rowe for components, until the time they acquired RO.
At that point, Rowe contracted a piano company (famous name, that slips my mind, at the moment) to make their cabinets--all cabinets made by this company are so marked. AA then installed RO, CD guts into their own cabinet, and Rowe continued to use their own parts. As for cosmetic parts availability--I have not been able to find the outside plastics for the "small door" early Rowe model for a long time now--
There was also a very early 45 rpm AA version cabinet, that like all 45 rpm units, used Rowe guts--it did not have the bubble tubes on the sides covered with plastic. It had two or three smaller tubes in some type design, dead center in the front door. Ron Rich

Thanks Ron…. That makes so much sense now….

Antique Apparatus used Rowe guts in their Nostalgic Bubblers up until 1992 when they purchased Rockola and then they started furnishing their boxes with Rockola guts.

And starting in 1993 when Rowe had no more relationship with Antique Apparatus, Rowe Ami wanted to continue to keep their bubblers on the street so they started offering their own cabinet design with the larger full front door (similar to the new design Rockola has today)…

Come to think of it…. Antique Apparatus and Rowe both went to the larger front door design at the same time because the 1993-94 Rockola Series III Bubbler with the Black Amp had a full size door too.

By the way, I just picked up that bubbler I mentioned last night, it’s a RB-8 45 RPM. This box does not have the usual metal Antique Apparatus ID plate above the Rowe International sticker, it may have been removed? Since it’s a 45 RPM with a R91 Rowe Manual, my best guess is that it’s an early 1988 model. I will confirm the mechanism soon but Its still in shrink wrap at this time on the back of my truck, I’m waiting for some reinforcements to help me get it off the truck and into my shop. LOL

FYI:
“David C. Rockola passed away at the age of 96 in 1992. He and his wife Margaret are buried at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, IL. In September 1992, just shortly before passing away, Rock-Ola sold his company to Antique Apparatus (founded in 1977). Antique Apparatus was renamed into "Rock-Ola" at this time.”