Jukebox Jive

Jukeboxes are the machines that brought music to the world at the beginning of the last century. People were just amazed that they could control the music in a growing number of public places. They used to enjoy going to pubs just to drop a coin in a  jukebox and listen to the music that they chose because they enjoyed it. A lot of dances  have taken place to the music played by a pub or diner jukebox.

The technology of jukeboxes changed over the years; from wax discs, to vinyl records and then to CDs. Advancing technology has always had a hand in the changes of jukeboxes in their function as well as their size and shape. The classic jukeboxes seemed to be all buttons for the music lover to press in order to get the tracks they desired. Later on chrome, lights and bright colours were added as the look changed, giving rise to the bright, flashy jukeboxes we all have in our memories.

The most famous and iconic jukebox is definitely the Wurlitzer. They were so famous in the 1940s that in some places that brand name was used instead of jukebox. Rival company Seeburg overtook them in popularity during the 1950s yet the brand name Wurlitzer is still more known for jukeboxes than any other.

Statistics say that Wurlitzer Jukeboxes are the most widely asked for by collectors in stores selling memorabilia. That is because they were the best, in both quality of sound and looks. If you can’t get a working original you can find replicas which play CDs. There is also a new special edition unit which can be connected to ipods showing yet again that Wurlitzer are the best.