New member needing help with Wurlitzer 1250 finish

Hi:

I just discovered the forum, looking for information on how to refinish a 1250 Wurlitzer that I am restoring. I live in Queretaro, Mexico and I own 5 jukeboxes, Wurlitzer 1250, 1450, 1500, 1550 and and a 1937 Rock-Ola Imperial. Only the 1450 and Rock-Ola are good looking and at my home and so far I have only restored the 1450, and plays well. I still have the other 3 to restore. Basically good original but very abandoned juke boxes. I am no expert on jukeboxes, but like old things in general. I have several old radios and old cars, which I like to restore myself (with professional help sometimes). I am a purist and like to restore things to back to how they were done originally.

Question now is how should I finish the 1250? I have seen several pics which seem to contradict one another in a few things, so the details I need to know are:

1. Chrome and nickel. In my case, which seems to have been an unrestored 1250, the side pillars and up to the sides of the button panel, my jukebox shows chrome (shines blue), while the button panel itself, speaker mouldings and upper moulding (hinge for the cover) show nickel plating (shines yellowish). Is this normal to have both chrome and nickel? Should I plan to restore it the same way?

2. I have seen pics of some 1250 with the sides of the button panel painted in brown color, and they appear that way in the literature and old pics, but in my case (and another one I found on the net) these were done in chrome. Were they done both ways?

3. The base of the jukebox, or the bottom part of the sides, hiding the wheels and housing the bottom moudling, in some pics, seems to have been painted dark brown or black. In some others it seems to be the same wood color. Can anybody tell me how it is supposed to be?

4. The rear panel should it be varnished or painted?

5. The dome has golden lines in most cases. Victory glass states that their dome (which is the one I got) does not have them. Should I think of adding them? Any hints as to what width and type of material should I use?

Thanks for any help,
Victor

Come on guys! Somebody out there must know the answer to my questions...

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Victor

Hi Victor,
Good luck, as there are not too many 1250's left in the USA. Most went to Mexico and the rest of Latin America, during the 50's, when the "100 selection" Seeburg 45 rpm phono was introduced. I think I saw one a few years ago, but there is no way I can remember the color scheme today. You might try www.alwaysjukin.com, as they may have a repro color flyer, available on them.
Ron Rich

Hi Ron:

Thanks for your response and for the link. I already ordered the Wurlitzer brochures in CD. I am sure I will find the answer to many of my questions there.

Thanks again,
Victor

Hi guys:

Lots of progress, or at least, I am happy with how we are doing so far. The 1250 is now working, though it doesn't play too loud. We cleaned all contacts, cleaned and lubed the mechanism, and luckily for me, it almost started to work by itself.

We finshed the cabinet's wood varnish.

Now we need to do the metal plating, and this is where my question comes.

I found that apparently some parts were chromed originally (blue shine) while others were nickel plated (yellow shine). Was it normal for Wurlitzer to use both chrome and nickel process in the same machine's parts?

Thanks,
Victor

I have restored 3 of these and kept the best most original one . The wood part of the cabinet was done in a typical walnut stain color and lacquer . Your last picture looks fine .

The biggest problem i had with mine was the idler wheel and getting it to go the right speed . I ordered one of the repro wheels and it went way to fast . I had to do some carefull grinding of the rubber to get it right .

These things have that Zenith cobra sound system in them , different animal than the norm . After alot of goofing around with mine it will blast the whole block with deep bass . Its important the correct volume control be there or it will never sound right .

As for the chrome , do either . Mine all had good plating after alot of buffing .

Thanks for your response. The 1250 is now playing fine, with reasonble volume.

As for the chrome versus nickel, I ended up doing it the exact way mine was. Most of the parts are nickel plated, and only a few are chrome plated.

With the help of a friend we are even recreating the painted metal grill, in bright orange with dark red patterns and the yellow decoration on top. I will post pics once finished.

Thanks,
Victor

Almost finished! I say almost because my jukebox could use some better parts... like some of the front plastic bottom parts, in case anybody might have one or two lying around.

Thanks!

Hello Victor,

Have you checked out the two pictures and information on the Stamann webside in their achieve section on www.jukebox-world.de

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Yes, Alan, thanks! Great pics and wonderful site.

victor