Looking for NJ-area repairman for AMI J (and any helpful advice)

Hello--I have an 1959 AMI model J that I am having problems with. No matter what letter/number you pick on the keyboard, it will only select A1 through A4. Local repairman said it needed a pulse generator wiper blade. I purchased a new part from Victory Glass and repairman installed it. The box worked great for 1 week, then started choosing selections that were a few numbers or letters off. I had the repairman back and he told me he could not guarantee his work and complained about the lousy mechanism of this year's model. It got progressively worse after a couple of weeks, and is now back to the point it was before the part was installed. I do not think I want to use this repairman again.

On his forum, AMI-man suggested finding a repairman who specializes in AMI's of this era, and recommended this site. The jukebox is located in Asbury Park, New jersey. Anyone out there who will travel to this area?

If any of you who are not in my area have any helpful advice regarding this problem, it would be appreciated. AMI-man thought that the pulse generator might need to be replaced. Any other thoughts?

Thanks!

Sounds like a half-assed repairman to me.
If this juke hasn't been restored properly, it will need a full restoration in order to perform properly for a long time.
Doing a "quick fix" on these is never the solution, and not a smart option.
Expect to spend some money for a proper job.

Hi BWGirl,
If you look at the posts above, you will see one with the title "Used/new parts/repairs--where to find"--check there after you look at the ID tag on the rear of you phono--and find the EXACT model number--Ron Rich

Hi Ron--the exact model is a JEJ-200.
And yes, Matt, I thought it was half-assed. I expect that this may cost some money. it has had small repairs done over the years, but nothing major. First thing is to find someone who can handle the job, then I will worry about how to pay for it.

Any suggestions?

Well, "Backward" I had that same model from summer 1988 till I sold it in early 1992.

Take a look at this page:

http://www.jukebox-world.de/Forum/Archi ... I_K200.htm

It is for a K but the "electrical" type is the same as yours. Scroll way down and you will see the pulse convertor keyboard. On it there is a set of wiper blades, the ones you ordered that slide over a circular set of contacts as it turns. These create a series of pulses corresponding to the letter and number selected and are translated in the Search Unit on the front of the mechanism.
If the blades have been replaced it is possible that they were not formed to exert just enough pressure on the wafer contacts. A simple test is to tale a thin piece of paper and attempt to slid it under each blade. if the pressure is adequate it will be difficult or impossible to get it to slide easily.

Also, the copper contacts on the wafer do get dull over time and if the new blades are not traveling in exactly the same position it is possible that they are now touching an area with poorer-dirtier contact faces.

The Search Unit has a series of relays and two stepper wheels. Problems in this area require a degree of skill and it is possible that parts here have worn and require replacement.

All this aside for a moment, that machine is now 56 years old and if the amplifiers have not been rebuilt it is inadvisable to continue using it. It can easily destroy itself if a capacitor shorts and overloads the power supply.

If you want to continue owning and using it, a service manual is a good idea -both for you and whoever you hire to do work on it. The men who actually operated and worked on these machines are now few and far between.

Here is one place to get a manual: http://www.alwaysjukin.com/items/servic ... s/list.htm The place you bought the wiper blade from may be another.

While the selection system was needlessly complicated, the mechanism was very good and cabinet construction of those pre-Rowe models was the best in the industry. Grand Rapids MI was a center of quality furniture builders and AMI used a well-known company for their juke cabinets (I can't remember the name). AMI was also the only juke box company to produce machine with an acoustically isolated speaker cabinet -all other makers housed the speaker in a common area with the electronics and sometimes also with the mechanism.

The tonearms need some modification to be easier on the records, but beyond that, AMI was a high quality builder.

Rob-NYC

Thanks Rob-NYC! OK, I'm going to sound really stupid, but which photo are you referring to? I will do the paper test, and if it the pressure is not adequate, how do I correct?

I definitely do not have the skill to work on the steppers and relays which is why I'm looking for a repairman.

(Do you want make a trip to the jersey Shore? it's nice this time of year!)

Ok, here is that shot of the keyboard:

http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/Rob-N ... rt=2&o=139.

The wipers are located on the copper colored circular 'wafer" with the connections. The test I suggested just involves trying to slip a thin piece of paper under the wiper to see if there is adequate tension against the stationary contacts as the wiper turns.

Unfortunately, I don't repair machines outside of what I have on location. I also sold most of my pre-Rowe AMI parts in the late 1990s. Sorry.

FWIW: A machine of that age will need a proper overhaul and that can run upwards of $500 IF you can find someone to do it. A partial "patchup" will be less, but you can expect other problems to show up as things not dealt with show their age. If there is not an overriding sentimental value to this machine, you might consider either selling it or trading it as partial payment for a restored machine. Getting a restored machine with a guarantee -preferably from a dealer is the way to go is you are not technically inclined.

Rob

OK, I have tried and cannot slip the paper under the wiper, so the pressure seems like it is fine.

Since I last wrote, the jukebox has developed more issues. Sometimes a selection is made an it does absolutely nothing. The carousel does not turn, the turntable does not spin. Usually pushing the buttons again will get it going. The other day I looked at it and there was a record on the turntable, needle was on it, and it was at a dead stop. I rejected the record, pushed another selection, and it started moving again.

I've had this jukebox since 1991. I've had tubes replaced, don't know if the amps were ever rebuilt. I know there was some restoration done to it before purchased it, but that dealer is long out of business. The half-assed repairman did adjustments to the keyboard (even though I did not ask him to). As far as using the manual to figure out repairs, I've been told by repairmen who did know this model that this box was adapted to work with Seeburg wall boxes, and some of the mechanisms are reversed from a normal J model. So I need someone who knows AMIs of this vintage and likes a challenge.

I would be fine with a $500 + overhaul. I have spent $800 in the past year and a half and don't even have a working jukebox.

FYI, this jukebox is located in my vintage clothing/retro store. I have it here for the pleasure of my customers (and my own pleasure). I even have the color scheme of my store and my website the same as the pink and turquoise colors of the jukebox. So there is a little sentimental attachment, but I don't really have the funds to buy another restored machine. So if this one's not fixable, I guess I just won't have a jukebox. I don't really need one. But when I see customers slow dancing to it, or little kids bopping around to it, I really hate to give it up.

So anyone out there who can help me?

The half-assed repairman did adjustments to the keyboard (even though I did not ask him to).

I have no way of knowing if the guy who serviced that machine was indeed "aalf-assed" but your remarks underscore the reason why I never do home repairs.

The fact is that you have a fairly complex piece of machinery that is 56 years old, has probably never been given proper restoration and is now developing multiple, small failures.

A machine in this state can not be patched up to reliability. When one problem is fixed another will appear soon enough and the person who did the repair will be called "half-assed" because he did not cover all failure points in a brief visit.

--I'd like to make a greater point to those reading; while printed manuals and forums like this can be a big help, if you don't have a degree of technical acumen, do NOT buy one of these old relics. When it comes to doing the actual work, in most cases you will be on your own.

To the topic author, I am sorry we didn't connect before you had spent a considerable sum on that machine. Given the situation I would still suggest getting in touch with a dealer who sells restored machines and see if a trade with some cash is doable for you.

Rob/NYC

Hi Rob,
I only called the repairman "half-assed" because Matt Tech called him that earlier in the thread. It was a joke!

Well, half a joke--when I told him about the alterations to the machine, he had no idea what I was talking about, so he really did not have any experience with an AMI of this vintage. After he installed the wiper blade, he undid an fix that had been done to the keyboard many years before that I was having no issues with. Then it did not work at all, and he had to spend an extra hour to get it to work correctly. An hour I had to pay him for, by the way.

Regarding that keyboard repair: as long as I had the machine, after a selection was made, the machine would pulse right way. After he worked on the keyboard, there is now a delay before it pulses. I mentioned that to him at the time, and he said that is the way it is supposed to be. You had this model. so I'm curious: did he do something to mess it up, or did he correct it?

BWGirl,
This is Ron, not Rob--
No way should it stall before "pulsing"--you should hear it "pulse" as the generator wiper travels. Now If you mean start the scan, yes, depending upon which numbers selected, there may be a very short time, after that wiper stops, to the time the basket motor starts-- .
BTW--an "overhaul" if done properly, can not be done for $500.00 !
Ron Rich

Thank you, Ron. I misspoke, the delay is before the scan.

Yeah, I didn't think an overhaul for $500 sounded right., but I was wishing that Rob was correct about that. I am prepared to spend more. But I am starting to think that my poor baby is on its last legs.

So if I can't get it repaired, what do I do with it now?

Did you try ALL of the people listed in AJ, in NY/NJ ?
Seems like there are a lot of repair persons in that area--
Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:BWGirl,
This is Ron, not Rob--
No way should it stall before "pulsing"--you should hear it "pulse" as the generator wiper travels.
Ron Rich

AMI and then Rowe have a 'hold out" circuit that prevents the pulse generator or wallbox from launching but only while the search unit is finding the hot section and punching the pin. the generator should launch as soon as the second button is pressed when the machine is not searching for the pin.

It sounds like this circuit had been bridged out and was restored by the person attempting to service the machine and as often happens, this revealed a problem in the restored circuit.

Again, the best idea is to sell/trade for a newer and restored machine if the owner doesn't feel competent to do the work themselves.

Rob

Rob,
You are talking about the "wait" circuit--I think ? That circuit stops any/all other wall-boxes connected from operating if another one has begun running. This is an improvement over all other designs in that it will not make "wrong" selections by having two items (phonograph and wall box--two wall-boxes) generating pulses at the same time. Ron Rich