"Moving" a Jukebox

Hi All,
This question comes up quite often--too often, after one has been moved, and damage has resulted !
Common sense, would tell most people that the juke makers did not want to spend "extra" money, on this subject--so, there must have been "reasons" they spent money on "packing materials/techniques". Therefore, since I have seen too many destroyed beyond repair, I advise that the following be done PRIOR to moving any brand/type of machine.
If possible, locate any printed material from the factory, explaining how to prepare it for transportation.
If this can not be done --ask here, giving the brand and model number. If no answers, use "common sense"--Do NOT, tilt, or set any unit on it's side or back--even if, "runners" are provided ! Secure {using "tape", wires--twist ties}, or remove, the tone-arm, or cartridge, and any thing else that's "floating free" records--record "trays" {on older units}, turntables {on some units}, ---all in all, ANYTHING that moves--slides, or can be "twisted", during the process. Be sure all "detachable" panels are firmly locked in place--door's included ! No loose glass, as you can bet it will be destroyed ! Should the jukebox be a Seeburg brand built model, from 1949 on--do NOT tighten the 3 or 4 (depending on model) nuts holding the mechanism down, UNLESS, you also install the two long shipping thumb {1/4-20} screws, into the carriage, itself ! Park the mechanism on the end of the end of the record rack, that has the "holes" in it, for inserting the mentioned thumb screws, or you risk bending the main frame ! ( see the book here!)
One other thing I have done--remove the guts, and then the cabinet is easier to move---
On WurliTzers that feature the under the deck winged screw lock downs, there is a small hole in the winged portion of the screw--this is for "bailing wire". This wire is to be attached from one screw to the next on the same side of the shelf in a fashion that prevents the screw from coming loose during shipment--
On later models--tie downs are above the deck, and should be locked with the locks (still hopefully) there--
ALSO, with either style, be sure to tie down the tone arm, so that the needle pressure spring can not be bounced out--and lost ! Ron Rich

Hi Ron,

Good advice as always, lets hope it doesn't fall on deaf ears.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

This is nice. I just bought a Rock-Ola Mystic 478. I have never owned a Jukebox before and it currently does not run but lights up and gives a digital readout. I'd like to ensure a safe travel home with it. I don't have access to a manual for it.

Ron - I can't agree with you more. I bought an AMI B from Freddy Bailey and it was brought to me in the back of his minivan. I mentioned it being on it's back and he said that's how it was done in GB. Not to sure about this. Needless to say it never worked until I had someone else come and rewire the selection board (of course that had nothing to do with the way it was transported). It's been working like a champ for many years since then.

I ruined a good CD100 that way.....was in the truck standing up all was well till the 80 mph wind on it from driving made it slip under the strap and fall over..... players now shot, skips cuts out does all kinds of whacky stuff. worked fine till then so I was told anyway

Yes, I learned my lesson the hard way. A group of thespians wanted to use my Rockola 442 Juke box for a play set back in the early 70s. This model has a horizontal turntable and tone arm and the record magazine sits in a vertical position. They came to move it as a "favor" (Mistake #1), and so had no supervision. They moved it on its back (Mistake #2), thus setting the turntable vertical and the record magazine horizontal. Surprise of surprises, it didn't work when they tried it out. Upon inspection I found that when the machine was tilted 90 degrees the top of the turntable came loose from the spindle, exposing the idler wheel UNDER the platter....and a few records came partially out of the magazine, resulting in them getting broken when they tried to make a selection. These problems were relatively easy to correct....but you are right, you can't just move a juke box around like you would a common piece of equipment. It is very sensitive.

Yep! A number of jukeboxes I have sold, I have had to go and repair them the next day, Even after telling them to handle them as though they where high explosive's. but do they listen, no! and no they did not drop them and followed my instructions, so I wonder how the mechanism chassis, was completely snapped off one end when it is spot welded in place, and a large piece was missing from the back of the box ( Seeburg STD4.) and of course it was not dropped. just pushed out of the van drop a jukebox just at one end from 2 inches. and see what happens. ( don't try this at home)

Hi everyone- I am about to be the proud owner of a Wurlitzer 3000 and I thought I should jump in ahead of time and learn what I can to make sure I transport it properly. Any advice or sites/places for manuals where I can get familiar with the beast ahead of time?

Thanks

Sure,
Read all of the above posts in the "Announcements", and section directly below it ("stickies")__
Ron Rich

Just picked up my HF100G from Ohio. Drove it back in a Uhaul 5x8 covered trailer. The guy who restored it tightened the 3 screws but did not install the thumbscrews for the mechanism. I also read later that there should be some wood shims used under the base at the mechanism hold down bolts. He left all records in and did not do anything to secure the pickup arm. One record had popped out and had grease all over it when I got it home. At least he did emphatically say that it could not be moved on its back or side and had to be kept upright.

But now it doesn't play. You push the buttons but nothing selects. Buttons act like the power is off. Opened it up and found the 27 prong plug lying in the bottom. I thought that must be the problem, but plugging it in yielded no change. Hoping to get it working soon as it is my wife's and I was the one who took it to be restored. That was in 2008 and we just got it back this past weekend. Yes, it took 7 years!

I just purchased an AMI R80 that is currently located in a basement. I have hired a moving company to move it and deliver to my home about 4 miles away. Can anyone send me any tips/advice on moving this machine?

Thanks in advance,

Drew

I am moving a Rowe R-86 jukebox that does not have the shipping bolts. Does anyone know the bolt size? Thanks

"Big" --, or "Large" --sorry, best I can do, none here--- Post it here when you find out ! Other then that, BE SURE that the pick-up arm is taped down on both, cartridge and back ends--famous for problems if not done !! Also, remove the turntable, and be sure EVERYTHING is secured--(amp shipping screws in place, for sure !! All Component mounting screws tight --See posts above !!) Ron Rich

Around 1980, my old college roommate was shopping for an AMi parts machine to finish off some work he was doing on his Continental 2. He was at a tag sale in the northeastern US and found an AMi Model K, cheap. Since the Model K was mostly complete, and he knew that I really liked jukeboxes, but didn't have one, he decided to bring it to my house and see if I wanted it before salvaging it for parts.

There was a problem, however, my old roommate had gone to the tag sale in another friend's borrowed blue AMC Hornet station wagon, and the jukebox had to be taken away immediately. So, my old roommate solicited several burly guys at the tag sale to lift the AMi K, all 400 pounds of it, up and onto the roof of the Hornet. They laid it down on it's back and tied it down with ropes. Heaven knows how he made it to my house (about a 2 hours drive), but he did.

That afternoon, I was sitting in my living room on the second floor. Suddenly, I looked out the window... did I mention that I was on the second floor... and saw an AMi Model K, on it's back, pass by my window. So here it was, a 400 pound jukebox on the roof of a car with only two people to get it down. To make matters worse, the bottom of the jukebox was facing the windshield. So with no other option, we dragged the jukebox off the front of the car over the windshield. The corners of the Model K caught into the hood of the Hornet and dug two big creases down either side of the hood. I still vividly remember seeing chips of blue paint flaking away. Then we eased it down over the grille to the ground.

The jukebox survived, and in fact, it is still in my rec room, working fine. The only evidence of this travel nightmare is some blue paint streaks on the back of the machine.

The AMC Hornet, however, did not fare as well. When we got the jukebox off the car, the roof was caved in like a bowl and there were two giant, deep scratches down the hood. The only saving grace is that the Hornet was already a wreck even before this incident. I wonder what the conversation was like when my old roommate returned the car to it's owner.

Lesson learned? Listen to what Ron says. There is a right way and a wrong way to move a jukebox. I think you'll agree that this was not the right way. We are lucky the machine survived and very lucky no one was killed.

Be careful.
Mark.

Plan on transporting a Rockola CD8 bubbler. I will move it in a high roof van so that it is upright. The seller does not have any of the original shipping/ packing materials. Didn't see anything inside that would secure the laser player. tips, suggestions for properly securing box for its trip will be appreciated.