Coin Slot Magazine - #087 - 1982 - May[International Arcade Museum]
glass in the tail feathers extending from the bird's
Jukebox Record
bodies. The corrected "B" glass cabinet also has a
wood baffle separating the top and lower halves of the
light shows from inside the cabinet. At the end of the
850 production, the 850A "Tulip" was built out of the
same cabinet, but displayed several tulips with curved
Continued from page 41
MODEL 850
The 850" Peacock" is considered by most collectors
to be the second most valuable Wurlitzer jukebox.
Introduced in 1941 it used many new ideas, and sales
reached 10,002 units. At the end of production an
850A "Tulip" was built finishing the year with an
additional 456 units. The selection buttons remained
lit until a selection was pressed. It had the newest in
bubble tubes as sterna Possibly there were complaints
later in production with the rotating polarizing units
constantly breaking down, since few are found intact
today. Those that are intact create a distracting grinding
electrical select mechanisms that was to be used with
noise. The simpler tulip could have solved the problem.
Whatever the problem, the 85Q was at the end of its
usefulness. Materials were becoming scarcer for non-
war related production. The giant was finished due to
all of the remaining classic models of the 40's. The color
the lack of materials. Many 850s were built, but they
ful peacock glass gave a polorized light show never
remain scarce. Storage space in the 50's may have
again repeated. Outrageous patterned castings held
up the front door to the cabinet, and flowed onto each
side. It was the last of the goliaths for Wurlitzer.
The earlier 850 "Peacock" models had padded feet
forced the large 850 to rot in the operator's junk piles,
or taken outdoors and leaned against the building,
ultimately hauled off to the dump.
on the front door, and contained a design error in the
that closely resembled the 780 design, and did the
same for the 850A. Neither attempt was successful,
peacock glass polarized light show. It has slightly
different looking peacocks, but had nothing separating
the lower half of the light show from the top half,
resulting in a poor performing light show of polarized
light at the mid-section of the peacocks. These are
referred to as the "A" glass models. These are easily
identified by the lack of color painted on the peacock
MODEL 850
Wurlitzer started making accessory wall speakers
and few are found today. The next model, the 950, had
two wall speakers available, but again sales were poor.
Today it is not uncommon to find numerous speakers
hanging from the walls and ceiling, but in the 1940's it
just was not practical. Many accessory speakers were
built, and Wurlitzer was probably forced to giving away
the smaller ones as incentives to operators for buying
their product.
Pointers for buyers of Class 4 Wurlitzers
(1) The cabinet is the largest percentage of the
jukebox's value. Purchase the most eye appealing
example of that model. No two jukeboxes will restore
\
exactly the same.
(2) Make selections 1, 13, 6, 19, and 7 prior to
purchase. A mechanism with 80,0004- plays may have
become sloppy and worn out. These selections will
test the mechanism's ability to pick out the top, bottom
and middle record trays. A worn mechanism tends to
pull out two trays at once. This occurs most frequently
within the middle of the record tray stack (6,19,7). If it
pulls out two trays, or drags on an upper or lower tray,
have it repaired The repair process requires experienced
care and adjustment. This will save you up to $500 in
later repairs.
(3) Insist on having a cartridge (Astatic 51-2) rather
than the spade head needle system used in the factory
tonearm.
(4) A missing coin credit system is worth $350 to
$700. Has that been figured into the price?
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© The International Arcade Museum
42 — THE COIN SLOT
(5) Are the sound system components original with
added modern accessories?
(6) Does each record tray contain a record holding
tray? They cost $3.00 each.
(7) Record speed of 78 RPM is preferred on pre-war
models, other than the 950.
(8) Preference for pre-model 950 jukeboxes is for
factory "turtle shell" plastics. The perfectionist wanting
that perfect machine will have to install the excellent
reproduction plastics now available. Expect some
flaws and misfitting on the original plastics.
(9) Renickled trim castings is a plus factor in value
added to the jukebox. These castings are easily broken
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
May, 1982