Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #087 - 1982 - May[International Arcade Museum]
units. A problem with this model are the easily broken
front plastic side trim castings. The front colored
plastic grill rods shrink and separate, while the colored
plastic deco circles distort and fall out of the grill.
Young sweethearts found it easy to carve their initials
into the upper corner plastics and center door plastics.
The graffiti still remains, while the couples have long
separated.
MODEL 800
The model 800 is large. So large, it appears plain. The
design depended too much on the woodwork, rather
than any artistic metal casting. No doubt the "zebra
plastics" rotating within each side pilaster helped to
distract any critics. With sales of 11,501, nobody was
complaining. Three stubby bubble tubes were vaguely
seen through the center grill plastic. The top center
window plastics were high enough to avoid graffiti, but
the side corner plastics received plenty. Where else to
make your mark known to your friends? Restroom
walls were the realm of the faint-hearted youths not
being able to gather enough courage to conspicuously
make their mark Even Wurlitzer quietly made his mark
on each of the 1940's models. The imaginative can see
the "W" that the top center castings make on each of
these models. No doubt the designers thought of
themselves being one ahead of the "juke joint" patron.
MODEL 750
The small 1941 jukebox will fool you. The small
appearance is an illusion much like the countertop
model 41. The illusion sold 18,387 units and is the
beginning ofthe"roundtop" Wurlitzers.lt was available
as a mechanical select or the first available electrical
select. A patron needed to make a selection and then
deposit his nickel on the mechanical select jukebox.
Nothing prevented someone else from changing the
selection. The 750-E (electrical select) made it possible
to make a selection without anybody knowing who
played the Woody Herman over the latest swing tune.
The selection was registered on a rotary drum accum-
MODEL 800
ulation of 24 coila Sales of 6,411 mechanical vs.
11,976 electrical models is an indication of the opera
tor's preferences in 1941. The electrical select models
made it possible to attach wall boxes to the "automated
phonograph" making it more convenient for the patron
to make a selection.
The bubble tubes are longer than those of the model
800, and more conspicuoua The coin chutes remained
centrally located. It was a solidly built jukebox with
only several weak points. The wooden decorative grill
was vulnerable to abuse by patrons kicking it during
moments of grief; i.e. making the wrong selection. The
side chrome cosmetic trim tend to pop off and become
lost. With so many 750s available for parts, do not let
minor flaws discourage you from buying this model.
MODEL 780
It takes several looks to know the 780 is a jukebox
and not part of the establishment's fine furniture. This
cabinet has no plastics other than the Wurlitzer logo
associated with the coin chutes and two amber glass
panels The hinges are made of cast aluminum, and
appear to be from an 18th century china cabinet
Without exception, the 780 is the nicest piece of
furniture a jukebox collector can own. Few are ever
offered for sale and can be found in a walnut stain or
cherry wood stain. I estimate 2,000 mechanical select
models, and 6,500 electrical select models were built.
Due to the all wood construction of the 780, most have
fallen apart from damp storage conditions. Although
conservative in appearance, the 780 may become the
Cinderella of jukeboxes in the future. Without a refer
ence book, few people knew it existed.
The wood cabinet is easily water damaged. The
gentle curving top invited numerous cigarette burns
on the finish. The aluminum hinges were easily broken.
Steve Loots of Des Moines, Iowa commented that the
780 was a favorite among the older jukebox operators,
taking that model home after operating it at the most
exclusive locations.
Continued on page 42
MODEL
750
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© The International Arcade Museum
May, 1982
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
THE COIN SLOT—41