1964 Rock-Ola Grand Prix 425 Restoration

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This is my first jukebox restoration.  I pulled it out of a Chicagoland basement last weekend and I've set about cleaning it up.  This photo is from the facebook marketplace listing.  I paid $200 and it took two hours in 90° heat to get it loaded in my CR-V.  

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Just to give you an idea of how filthy this thing is, here's an image of the metal access panel off the rear of the machine.  I don't know if I'm removing nicotine stains or kitchen grease.  Gel-Gloss is cleaning it right up.

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I broke one of the wheels hauling this 350 pound beast out of the basement.  So I upgraded to 3" wheels from Menards.  She's a smooth roller now.

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While I had access to the bottom side, I went ahead and sealed the wood with Minwax Polycylic.  That changed the color from matte tan to a rich brown.  I hope I never need to see the bottom again.  The side panel in this picture is glossy from Orange-Glo.  I touched up some nicks and scrapes on both side panels with colored pencils.  I tried brown shoe polish first but couldn't get enough color saturation.

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Good news, the yellow discoloration is coming off the chrome speaker screens.  I originally thought this was oxidation, but it's the same gunk that covers the rest of the machine.

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Greetings 280061.  Let's see if we can get you feeling young again in 2019.

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I picked up a dinky retro record player on facebook marketplace last night for $20 (Crosley CR6017A-MA).  I wanted to listen to some of the music that came with my Rock-Ola but I can't find my old player.  Hopefully it's in a box I overlooked in our basement.  The first record played was "In the Ghetto" by Elvis.  Now I have another 87 records to clean.  Some of them are still stuck in the jukebox until I figure out how to rotate the carousel.  

[peterd51]

Hi,

is there a 'scan / off / operate' switch near the top front of the mechanism?

If so then move it to 'scan' and the carousel / basket should rotate.

Move it back to 'off' so you can remove the top few records, then repeat.

Regards
Peter

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Thanks to peterd51 all the records are now out of my Rock-Ola.  Also, the play counter is at 48,472 before I start playing my own selections.

[Ron Rich]

Balt,
That play counter is probably at more like 5,48472 !
Ron Rich

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Even the keys to this jukebox are cool.  Good luck breaking into "Fort Lock".  Bummer I snapped one in half during the move.  I'll need to have a replacement made.
Speaking of breaks, I'm taking one, but I'll be back.

[Ron Rich]

Balt,
You don't "need to have one made" ! See our FAQ's section--they are available !! The "Fort Lock" is not the OEM lock !

[bjwizzer]

Balt,

I have a R-425 that I am parting out. I have sold quite a few parts but still have some mech parts and
"body parts". Should you need anything send me a message and I'll see if I have it.

BJ

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I'm back from vacation and preparing to go elbow deep in Rock-Ola. Here are a few pics before I begin.

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Today I downloaded the service manual for my Rock-Ola. It included the wiring diagrams, parts list, and a color copy of the original advertising flyer.

I also went shopping for 45's to swap out some of the existing music that I don't care for. It's a serious investment of time to flip through hundreds of random singles looking for the diamonds in the rough. I was excited to grab some Chuck Berry, Men at Work, Steve Miller, Cat Stevens, Sinatra, and Elvis. Will I ever come across some Depeche Mode? 

Cleaned my new tunes when I got home.