New AMI Rowe Saturn II Jukebox (have a couple of questions)

Hi gang, this weekend I bought my very first CD jukebox. I have a couple of 50's jukes, but I wanted something I could play more "modern" music on. I got a smoking deal on a AMI Rowe Saturn II that's in immaculate condition. I don't even think it has been on location. CD Lens cleaning kit was unopened, both service manuals were present, pricing inserts, unopened title strips, etc. The mechanism only has 2500 plays on it and according to the cash audit, $15 has passed through it. Dollar bill receiver and coil rejector is still present.

Anywho, my first question is about pilaster animation. This machine doesn't have or didn't come with any motors to rotate the color wheels around the pilaster bulbs. What does it take to install and mount 2 motors in this thing so I can get some lovely animation?

Secondly, I have spent over 2 hours trying to figure out how to raise the page unit into service mode so I can take a look at everything behind it. I have explicitly followed the instructions to lift up gently on the unit, then pull upwards on the 2 retaining tabs on either side of the unit. IT WILL NOT BUDGE. Do you guys think there are some shipping screws in the way that maybe haven't been removed? I can't figure it out for the life of me. I can take pictures or a video if that helps with you assisting me.

Thanks in advance! And yes, I've RTFM and still can't get the page assembly to lift as per the instructions

Hi,
First of all --what's a Saturn II ? Model number would help--
Most of the later Rowe's that the pages lifted like that, had shipping screws through the rear outside wall of the cabinet--
Ron Rich

I believe the Saturn II is a model CD100J. I know that the CD100K had 2 shipping screws that needed to be removed, one on each side of the title rack.
Since you have all of the original manuals, you should check for an Installation section. Should have pictures pointing to the locations.

Thinking about it, the screws I'm referring to would need the title rack lifted to get to them so guess this isn't much help. It's unlocked, right? (got to ask )

Nelson

Ron Rich wrote:Hi,
First of all --what's a Saturn II ? Model number would help--
Most of the later Rowe's that the pages lifted like that, had shipping screws through the rear outside wall of the cabinet--
Ron Rich

Praise be to you Ron! Thank you! I looked carefully last night and saw the two shipping screws still installed. I would have never seen them unless you had mentioned it. I can't believe I had been looking for 2 hours trying to figure it out. I didn't want to break anything, so I kept my cool and slowly examined everything. This one had me perplexed enough where I had to ask for help

If this can help someone in the future, here's the screws Ron told me about. They're black screws on black paint, not super obvious

Now that I have the page assembly issue figured out, can someone tell me how to add animation to the pilasters? They already have the color wheels over the fluorescent tubes. There's just no motors or belts to turn them. I don't see any wiring in place or even where you would mount the motors. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, this is a CD100J model jukebox and looks like this:

Himmmmm -- why would they have installed "color wheels", without motors ?--A photo of the insides might help--or a look in the parts book ?? Ron Rich

By the way, who made the coin door locks for AMI ROWE in 2001? I can't figure out who to contact to get a key. I would like to have this as complete as possible. Can anyone tell by looking at the picture what kind of lock this is?

Ron Rich wrote:Himmmmm -- why would they have installed "color wheels", without motors ?--A photo of the insides might help--or a look in the parts book ?? Ron Rich

I'm not sure Ron, I'm new to CD boxes so I'm not sure if it's common for them to come with color wheels and not motors. I took one of the pilasters out along with the bulb and it's perfectly clean in there with nothing to turn or rotate each cylinder. I'll take pictures when I get home to show you.

The same company that made most all of Rowe's locks from about day 1--National Lock--any GOOD locksmith can make that key, using the code number on the lock--Ron Rich

National Cabinet Lock got bought out by CompX several years ago, but virtually all of their "National" product line is still made because they are so popular. CompX also bought out Fort Lock and Chicago Lock at the same time.

I was able to get National keys through my local locksmith.

None of the "J" models ( Saturn or Saturn2) came with motors to turn the pilaster color tubes. They had so much trouble with them in the model "F" Venus that they were left off the Js. If you feel you have to have them you could find parts from the Venus (Caliente is the same) and install the wiring as well. The motor consisted of a drive wheel with an "O" ring around it that would ride on a disc attached to the end cap. They are very unreliable as in the fact the weight of the tube assembly "hang" on this drive wheel thus ending in everything pulling apart over time.