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Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:35 pm
by DoghouseRiley
I've just acquired another jukebox, a Rock-Ola 443

It's in very good condition having been in private hands for nearly thirty years and seems to work well, though obviously not played very often, going by the dust on the records and general dirt. I'm going to give it a clean up and a lub job.
I have a question. It has a switch for either 220 or 230 volts. UK voltage is usually 240. The switch was in the 220 position, so should I put it back to 230, or would a modification have been made to make it a 240 volt system?

Also it says in the "flyer" that the bottom front grill is supposed to be removable for cleaning,Any ideas how it comes out?

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 6:08 am
by Ron Rich
My guess would be that it should function OK in the 230 position---did you ever measure your mains voltage ? Ron Rich

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:01 pm
by DoghouseRiley
Ron Rich wrote:My guess would be that it should function OK in the 230 position---did you ever measure your mains voltage ? Ron Rich


Sorry Ron, I had another look this morning it's 220 or 240 volts, I put it down to having driven 300 miles back an forth to Newcastle across the Pennines, to get it yesterday.
I guess the previous owner wasn't too up on electricals, I'm sure it's supposed to be on 240.

Another problem is that the fluorescent tube that illumanates the numbers bank was missing. I used the one at the top of the box to check it out and swapped the starter but it still wouldn't work, is there likely to be a fuse or should I be looking for a faulty choke?

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:10 pm
by Ron Rich
Un likely to be a "choke"--unless that's what we (who do NOT speak the "Kings English"--and are proud of it !) call a "ballast" (aka "transformer").
Check sockets for the lamp and starter, and be sure power is getting to the ballast---Ron Rich

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:19 pm
by DoghouseRiley
Ron Rich wrote:Un likely to be a "choke"--unless that's what we (who do NOT speak the "Kings English"--and are proud of it !) call a "ballast" (aka "transformer").
Check sockets for the lamp and starter, and be sure power is getting to the ballast---Ron Rich


Thanks for that Ron, I'll check it out.
My next problem is finding a fluorescent tube as it's a "discontinued length"
27.25 ins excluding the pins 18 watt.

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:00 pm
by Ron Rich
That's a 28 inch length (Lamps are measured to include the pins)--still available here, at least in the T-8 size.
The units that I have in stock here are marked "F-18T8 CW K28". Other manuf's. may mark them slightly differently.
Don't know if the ballasts used there are 117 or 240 volts --but it should not matter, as the ballast should supply the correct voltage.
Ron Rich

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 2:13 am
by DoghouseRiley
Thanks for your help in identifying the tube, I believe they still stock these over here.
I've sorted out removing the grill, it's just a case of opening the three latches I found inside at the top of the back of the grill.

As you can see it's not in bad cosmetic condition and works well. But the decal behind the optional record sleeve holder is faded, as is the plastic strip above the bass speakers, can these still be obtained?


Image

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:12 pm
by Ron Rich
Riley,
IF---you have the parts manual on that phono, look up the part numbers and try http://www.victoryglass.com . They purchased the factory parts for all 45rpm phono's when they closed. Otherwise, there was a guy some 15 or so years ago in England who "made" and sold re-pro parts. I think he called himself "the jukebbox guy"--or maybe "amp guy"?--not sure anymore--.
Also you might try Stamann in Germany ( http://www.jukebox-world.de --I think)--nice people who make and sell great re-pro parts--
Ron Rich

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:42 pm
by DoghouseRiley
Thanks for that Ron, I've sent off a few e-mails.

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:01 am
by Hildegard
Hello Riley,
from what I know the fluorescent lamp used in 443 is a T12 lamp - 25 Watt 28". This is not a standard type anymore so often thinner 18 Watt lamps can be found instead often.
You should check if the choke, starter and lamp match each other. If you have a choke and starter for 25 Watt a 18 Watt lamp will probably not work.
Also from our experience often T8 lamps do not work as well - even if they have the correct value and length. So we usually recommend to get t12 lamps with 25 Watt 28".

Hello Ron,
thanks for your nice feedback on us! I hope you had a great start into 2010.

Hildegard

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 3:15 am
by DoghouseRiley
Thanks for taking the trouble to respond Hildegard,

I've checked the manual and all three tubes should be 25 watt.
So I'm wondering why the 18 watt tube is working in the top fitting, maybe it has been changed? I'll check tomorrow and also look to see what's being used in the bottom fitting.
If it's a 25 watt tube, I'll try it out on the middle one.

Thanks for your help.

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:14 am
by Ron Rich
Going form what I have found--a whole lot depends on the brand of the starter. Some companies seem to make a 14-25 watt starter and call it out as a "FS-2". Others make a 14-22 watt starter, and also call it a "FS-2". Some make a starter marked FS-25, and claim it's for the 25 watt lamp--while others make a FS-25 watt starter, but state it can be used for "18 to 22 watt lamps"--I have seen all combinations used successfully and un-successfully--even pulling new starters from the same box will sometimes work, and other times not---One thing of importance is that if used in ANY equipment having a "computer"--the starter MUST have the word "Condenser" on it (also it must be inside---) Then you have the "Universal" starters----- Ron Rich

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 5:11 pm
by DoghouseRiley
Well... The mystery deepens.

I've checked all three chokes and they're all rated 25 watts.

I checked the bottom tube and that's another 18 watt one which will work in either the top or bottom fitting but not the middle one. I've checked both ends of that fitting with a mains testing screwdriver so at least there's current there. I'll get a 25 watt tube tomorrow and another starter and see how I go on.

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:43 pm
by Ron Rich
Riley,
I am willing to bet that either the "choke" ("ballast" in non-Queens English) is bad or, one (or more) of the socket contacts for the lamp, or starter is bent/broken, or just weak--this is quite common --- Ron Rich

Re: Rock-Ola 443

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:32 pm
by DoghouseRiley
Ron Rich wrote:Riley,
I am willing to bet that either the "choke" ("ballast" in non-Queens English) is bad or, one (or more) of the socket contacts for the lamp, or starter is bent/broken, or just weak--this is quite common --- Ron Rich


I'm suspecting the sockets, as neither of the tubes seem to sit "right" in them.

I think I've a old fitting in my garage that I can take the sockets from, if a new tube doesn't work.