Phonoland

Back in the late 80s I purchased an old jukebox which had been taken out of a bar in North West England, UK.
This jukebox consisted of a wall selector and hide-away unit. Originally built sometime in the 70s.
The hide-away had a Seeburg mech.
The story I was told at the time, was: Some UK companies had started to import jukebox mechanisms from the US and build them into their own cases with their own electronics. Apparently, importing jukebox parts, rather than complete machines, was much cheaper as they didn't carry the same import tax.
WPA was one such company.
I don't know if any of the story I was told was true, but it sounded plausible, especially for the 70s.
I have included the photos I could find of the jukebox, not much to see really.
Can anyone identify the mech. model? This would help date it.
Has anyone else heard of WPA? I have researched all over the web and come-up with nothing.
Does anyone else know of any other machines like this? Hybrids of other manufacturers.

In case anyone is wondering - the white vinyl record being played is: Police - Every Breath You Take. I still have the record.

Hi Keith,
Judging by the contact point arrangement, and the type of tone arm/cartridge, my best guess would be that it "hastabe" a 1966 PFEAU-1 model mechanism. Ron Rich

Thanks Ron,

Had a feeling you would know that one.

Would love some more info on WPA if anyone has any to share.

This is definitely an odd creation -a digital selection system, a mech with the older stereo pickup and I notice that the top contacts (mute) on the vertical stack are unused indicating a trip relay somewhere and S-S amp.

I wonder if Seeburg sold them their remaining stock of tonearm assemblies and mechs from earlier models. Or, if these might have been reconditioned mechanisms with new electronics. The flaw in that theory is that the tonearm isn't painted.

Rob/NYC

Hi Rob,
The "top contacts" on a PFEAU-1, would be the "P" contacts, which were used to trigger the Autospeed, which I ASSUME is not being used here, as the gears have probably been changed ? (wires to these contacts were internal to the mechanism itself--not connected to the mech cable--I think ?)
Yes-- the un-painted tone arm is questionable--I am ASSUMING that they blasted the paint off it ?
The above also ASSUMES that the company purchased used mechanisms. It's also possible that they had Seeburg, make up, "special" mechanisms just for their use ??
Ron Rich

I was hoping someone in the UK would have joined this thread with some more news about other WPA machines. There must have been hundreds made and some of those must have survived.

Ron Rich wrote:Hi Rob,
The "top contacts" on a PFEAU-1, would be the "P" contacts, which were used to trigger the Autospeed, which I ASSUME is not being used here, as the gears have probably been changed ? (wires to these contacts were internal to the mechanism itself--not connected to the mech cable--I think ?)
Yes-- the un-painted tone arm is questionable--I am ASSUMING that they blasted the paint off it ?
The above also ASSUMES that the company purchased used mechanisms. It's also possible that they had Seeburg, make up, "special" mechanisms just for their use ??
Ron Rich

Actually I mis-wrote on the top blades. On the older machines those are squelch -not mute. The top set do appear to have solder so something was previously connected there. Of course the phenolic also looks different on the top section so that may have been changed.

As for the tonearm, personally I doubt anyone would bother taking that whole assembly apart to blast it, but I do wonder; did Seeburg have any policy of selling NOS assemblies and/or parts? Would they 'whip up" a mech of older components if asked?

Rob

Hi Rob,
Yep--"squelch" on the2050 tube type phono's--
As for the tone arms--the last few runs of that arm were "poorly" painted. I have seen the paint flake off them just from "washing the mech". If they were "sandblasting" old mechs, I am sure that paint would fall off--
Sure--If anyone, "paid the right person", all kindza strange things, came out the side door(s). A few hundred "spare" mechanisms, would not surprise me at all--
Ron Rich