Seeburg Magnastar Model SB-100 (Year 1975)

I have been through the manual a few times and can not find any information about setting this model to free play. There is a credit switch where you may obtain however many plays the credit coils are set for.

Is there anyway to set this model to free play?

Best
Darrell

Hi Darrell,
Jukeboxes were NOT designed to play for free--they were designed to MAKE money--therefore, there is no "easy way" of putting it on "free play" ! Which model pricing unit is installed in that phono ? Ron Rich
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Hi Ron

I knew they are not designed for free okay, but, there is a free play unit for older models and the USC1 Bandshell was easy to set to free play. As you may know, they do not mark the pricing unit that I can see, other than what I think is a part #35 128.

The manual states is has a "Single Pricing Unit .... Type SPU5-56 (Adds 1 thru 6, Sub I) (10-455420), or SPU5-X** (Adds 1 thru 6, Sub I), or SPU5-Y** (Adds 1 thru 6, Sub I, 2 x Feature), depending on pricing requirements. ** Varies with country."

How would I determine which unit it is when it is not marked?

Best
Darrell

Darrell,
It's a SPU-5 (of one version , or the other) . It was marked with a "sticker" (on the cover, next to the meter, if I recall correctly ) when new--and if you follow the book, you can tell by the way it's set up as to which version it is. If I remember correctly, it is possible to make up an electronic free play adapter for that model.
PM me-- Ron Rich

Ron

The only sticker is on the front between the two connectors and it has the numbers 60 125.

Best
Darrell

Hi Darrell,
Well, what can I say ?? "they used bad glue" ???
Ron Rich

It is not a good idea to make the box permanant free play since the latch bar solenoid would be energized all the time. I wire a simple push button switch to the coin switch of the quarter. each time you press the button you would get 2 plays ( if the original pricing is still effective. I usually try to find a creative place to hide the switch in one case i hid a subminiature switch in the back of the coin return cup. If what I described to you is not 100% clear have a tech do it for you. Or just use the juke as a 300 pound piggy bank.

Vaguy,
Your suggestion has one MAJOR drawback--
If a "kid" decides to "play the jukebox", he, or she, is likely to push the added free play button and walk away from the phono, leaving the credits on--thus burning up the solenoid--seen this happen WAY too many times !! IMHO, even "adults" who have been told NOT to do this, tend to do so ("Oh, s---t, I forgot !?")
--not worth the risk -- Ron Rich

I'm confused. Why can't you just remove the price board from the black box to make it free play?

Mark,
Very simple--this model does not have a DTP-1 (black box) !
Ron Rich

Thanks Ron - I'm such a noob sometimes. So in 1975 Seeburgs Magnastar still has a latch bar solenoid like my 1968 LS-2 Gem. What were they thinking?


Darrell - I can say from experience that you should not make it free play. The person before me made mine freeplay and it smoked the solenoid. Therefore - Yes you can screw with the pricing unit to make it free play but sooner or later the latch bar solenoid will fry out / burn up. A direct replacement solenoid is not easy to come by nor cheap.

If you need to have a free play juke - stick with a DTP black box model like your 1970 bandshell.

Drop quarters in the magnastar and leave the door off the cash box.

Mark,
Easy answer--again--
"They" were thinking--wow--we have tons of parts left over for 100 select models--let's not re-design it till we have used up all old parts ! (When they "ran out" of these parts, my late friend Tony Miller, was assigned the task of designing a new system-- which became the "red box" system, first used in the 100-77D model)
Ron Rich