Phonoland

I have a 1953 ami e-120 jukebox. I was using the jukebox last night and it was playing fine . When the jukebox grabbed the next selection the needle hit the record and I had no sound. I checked under the tone arm to see if a wire had come loose and that looks fine. I followed the wire down to the amp and all looks good. Any suggestions as to where my problem lies? Any help would be appreciated.

It's 60 years old, and has this box been serviced/restored?
If so, what has been done?
If not, using it "as is" only accelerates problems.

Did you check that the needle is still there ?? If so, most likely the amp needs to be serviced ( and probably needs it even if the needle is missing !). Ron Rich

The needle is still there and I followed the wire all the way down to the amp and it looks to be fine. When I purchased the jukebox ,it had some items replaced such as caps . It has not been restored. It has just had some things replaced over the years. I use it almost daily and was using it last night when this issue occured.

I have owned the jukebox for 10 years and havent had it serviced. I have done some maintenance on it myself and generally dont have any issues with it. Some of the original wires were replaced before I bought it as well. I am a collector of antique radios as well and try to educate myself on them when I can to get a better understanding on the inner workings and possibly fix them.

Well,
You could look at the tubes, to see if they are all lit--- Most likely, if any tube is un-lit, other then the rectifier(5U4 in that model, I think), you may just have a "bad tube"--If the rectifier is not lit, it would be my suggestion that you find someone who has the skills necessary, to rebuild the amp.

I will check them again. I am pretty sure they were all lit up ,but it cant hurt to double check. Thanks for the info.

http://arcarc.xmission.com/PDF_Jukebox/ ... /ami-e.pdf

These are world's simplest juke amps.

For a test remove the pickup plug and, with the machine in play mode w/volume at midpoint, poke a small screwdriver into the holes where the pickup was plugged. One hole is ground, the other is the input. If this induces a hum the problem is either the pickup it self or the cable from it. Do not touch the chassis while doing this test.

If this does not cause a hum, check the volume control connections. A short across that line will kill sound. Pulling out a 6SN7 should cause a pop or other noise (in play mode).

If the sound gave out when the mechanism moved to to another selection the chances are that the pickup line opened inside the cable.

Rob/NYC

I checked the tubes last night and all are lit up ,but while I was doing that I put it in play mode and checked the speaker wires and other wires going to the amp while I was doing that you could hear the speaker make noise as if it was amplified. I will do a test on the pickup plug to see if I get a hum tonight. Can the needle cartridge go bad ?

Can the needle cartridge go bad ?

Yes, but ceramic carts generally deteriorate gradually. The become tinny and have a scratchy-staticy sound as the twister shrinks and crumbles.

Rob

Okay, I had great sound . One second it worked the next it didnt. I will do that test tonight and see where I get. Thanks for all the info it is appreciated.

Okay I pulled out the pickup plug and in play mode I stuck a small screw driver in the holes and by do so it did not induce a hum or a buzz. I also looked at the tubes again . There are two 6sn7 tubes they were both lit and when I pulled the one closest to the pickup plug I didnt get a pop. The second one made a pop sound when I pulled it in play mode. I looked to see if I had another 6sn7 tube laying around so I could just try it and I didnt have one. So do you think the problem lies in the amplifier itself? Possibly because the one 6sn7 did not make a pop while in play mode? checked all other wires and nothing seems to be loose.

"Something" in that amp "crapped out"--not a good idea, IMHO, to be "pulling tubes" with amp powered up--You can try "testing" tubes, if you can find a reliable tester--but if you don't know electronics, I would advise you to find a "pro" to repair it--Every second it's powered up, adds risk of doing more( think $$$) damage--- Ron Rich

Would a tube still light up even if its bad? I can get another tube and try that.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I'm thinking the muting on that box is in a set of switches on a relay on the turntable or by the tone arm.