Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #V8N5 - 1983 - January [International Arcade Museum]
Vintage
By
COlLECTIBLES
Ray Eklund
That junkebox needs parts
So, you did not t^fea^y advice and
purchased some cit^hfctt broken-
down jukebox. It may nk^^
chance the coin box
silver coins; or an original "Pi
People Eater" on a 78; or possibly"
you wanted it to hold down some
carpet in the gameroom. Whatever
your reasons, you have made an
important step forward. Right into
another situation. Now that you have
the jukebox, where do you get parts?
There are a number of excellent
sources for jukebox parts today.
Several years ago the competition
was not as toug h, but today you can
even try saving money by buying
from sales and specials that each
dealer may offer. Reputations have
been built by each dealer, and the
information is well known among
collectors. You will be forced to
discover the quality of the service
on your own, but the dealers I list
are those with whom I would deal
with myself. A jukebox parts dealers'
reputation is very important, so if a
dealer does give you a problem let
it be known to your friends. A seedy
character in the business is not
around very long once the jukebox
chatter is negative. It will produce
dramatic changes in the way the
dealer handles his business. There
may be instances where you are
100% wrong, and the reverse wij
theTTTTames passed-afotmcT and
you may have the problem of getting
any cooperation from anybody.
Types of dealers
Some jukebox parts dealers buy
their
entire stock from persons
making individual items. A group of
independent parts suppliers make
up their inventory. When one person
quits making a part, this part may be
picked up by someone else, or just
becomes unavailable. The majority
of today's dealers buy from one
another, and also produce various
items on their own. Many instances
of one producer supplying all of the
dealers with the same, identical
part is common practice. Market
conditions, timing, or even the posi
tion of the moon, may cause the
prices to fluctuate. So, by shopping
around a collector may be able to
get a better deal on the same iden
tical parts offered by another dealer.
Dealer
co A' m may produce and sell the
.
m
:
u but dealer 'C stocks it and
rom -muse part,
f enthusiast
may sell it for less. As complicated
d
Ray Eklund is a jukebox
e
ade
as this may seem, it just points out
oad hours
l many
who has spent
rc restoring
n
a
.
w
o
that a wise shopper can save some
w
D
w have any ques
his machines.
If w
you
/
/
money on jukebox parts today.
:
p
tions you
would
like
answered,
htt
please send to Ray Eklund, c/o Juke
box Record, 7804 East 134 Terrace,
Grandview, MD 64030.
JANUARY 1983
© The International Arcade Museum
Parts availability
Before you buy that jukebox miss
ing a numbej//6H>arts, check with
the parfs^d^aier to see if those
parts^wi^atfailable. Many are, but
C^
large numbers of parts
fare not reproduced. Those that
are not being reproduced will have
to be found from another jukebox
like yours. The people who own
these "parts machines" know what
they have, and they may refer to
them as "junkers," but the prices
received for some parts are far from
junk prices Nobody likes to junk
out a desirable jukebox, but many
times it cannot be restored profitably.
Owning a junker to part out can be a
good investment, if you know what
you are doing. There are some juke
boxes that are not even desirable
when complete, so experience will
dictate your choices in the long run.
What parts should
be kept original?
The thick pre-war plastics are pre
ferred over the new thin reproduc
tion plastics There may be instances
where you have no choice and must
replace the older plastics with re
productions The thin post-war plas
tics are virtually identical to the
originals, and even superior plas
tics are made today. These are pre
ferred over the imperfect originals
Original castings are always pre
ferred. Original sound systems, coin
systems, wood parts, and trim are
preferred over reproductions I say
preferred, but many times there is
no choice in the matter. If you need
a casting, and can only locate a
63
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