Phonoland

Hi, I'm new here. I am André from The Netherlands and I am a collector and restorer of classic arcade video games. Through this hobby I also got interested in jukeboxes. I cant afford an open classic one, so I looked around for a nice closed one. After looking around on the internet I fell in love with Seeburg's USC-1 Bandshell, because of its brilliant looking design. I also like the color setting, it still doesnt look aged today IMHO.

I almost bought one two years ago but that one was not working and had to be lifted out through a window, so I didnt buy that one. However, recently a (mostly) working one popped up and I bought it.
Every visitor has been very enthusiastic about it since I got it, which is not always true about the arcade games

It works but sometimes plays a wrong selection or forgets one, but I'm sure I'll solve that with the help of Ron's book.

However, right now I want to restore the front artwork using some filters that normally are used for stage lighting. However, Ive been looking how I should remove the cardboard diffuser and the front glass itself but I cant figure it out. Is there a way to remove it without totally disassembling the entire machine ?

In theory, you grab the two "rings" that are attached to the glass frame on the left and right, and pull up-then out, on the top side.
However this does not always work as "stuff" falls in between the frame and it's holder, and sometimes acts like glue. You need to sort of "wiggle it out"--use care the "rings" will cut your hands after awhile. Also--very important to note--glass ONLY fits in one way. This is determined by a rivet placed dead center on the top side-- Have fun and thanks for the book purchase ! BTW--this info is covered in the "I&O Manual". Ron Rich

Hi Ron,

Sorry still have to order the book
Was in and out of hospital the last two weeks (nothing serious) but got me distracted a bit. I'll order tomorrow and thanks for the ahead info !

Do people want to see pics and/or video here ?

O well at least here's a video of my Bandshell:

http://youtu.be/CCzfqZglPig

If you have high bandwidth, make sure to switch to 1080p for the best quality. I hadn't found the tone controls yet when I made this video so the sound is not optimal and also the video cam's mics are not doing it justice.

You need to loosen ( or more exactly, "run up") the four 9/16 nuts on the base frame. These should come all the way to the top of the studs, and jam there---( this is also covered in the "I & O Manual") Ron Rich

Yes, those are the "transport bolts" right ? I already thought they should be ! I think it even has a big influence on the sound (like the motor hum being feed-back to the needle) is that right ?

So funny, the former owner had it like this for YEARS (well at least it was safe during transport

The former owner also had dismounted the 4 switch service panel and put it "hanging outside" so he could credit it. I quickly found through Googling that simply removing the "programming" PCB from the black box was sufficient to put it in free-play !

Anyway, this tells that the former owner has done nothing in technical sense, and he even mentioned it hasn't been serviced since 1988 ! SO I'm going to need that book for sure !

About the front removing, just tried it and now I feel really embarrassed that I asked because it's SO simple !

I removed the diffusing sheet (is that the correct name). Apparantly someone in the past has been (re-)gluing this in. That glue has run down and created the bad spots on the "artwork" which really is a shame since it's in great condition otherwise.
My plan is tom completely remove the top blue and the second red "bands" and replace them with filters used normally for stage lighting. I have a color sample book here and well, if anyone wants to do the same in the future: The brand of filters is Lee Filters (http://www.leefilters.com/).

I ordered the following:

714 Elysian Blue (top blue band)
182 Light Red (2nd from the top band)
170 Deep Lavender (for the band around the selection indicator, which is flaked). To back this I ordered 229 Quarter Tough Spun which is a diffuser that I will put behind it.

The colors are matched from their samples book. Not perfect, but for sure close enough.

Waiting for the stuff to arrive. The filters come in sheets of 50 x 122 cm's so plenty for a band. (The box is about 100cm. wide) and they cost me a little bit over €6 per sheet.

To make this work I'll of course have to remove (make blank) all the original colors. Going to be tough to get that "glued" area nice looking....

Yes those are "transport bolts" and that will lessen the hum--HOWEVER, tightening them down like that does NOT make the unit "safer in transportation"--IMHO it makes it more likely to bend the main base casting ! The whole "preparing for transportation" procedure as shown in the I & O manual MUST be done, for it to be "safe"-- I do cover a "generic model" in my Seeburg Mech Guide-- Ron Rich

OK.........well it was transported in a US built van so pretty comfortably, and we made sure to keep it upright all the time....I think it has survived OK but good to know in the future...

If transported "upright", there is usually no problem--if the four nuts are tight however, the base frame is still subject to "extra pressure"--
Ron Rich