"Moving" a Jukebox

[Craig]

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON PHONOLAND BY RON RICH

Hi All,

This question comes up quite often--too often, after one has been moved, and damage has resulted !
Common sense, would tell most people that the juke makers did not want to spend "extra" money, on this subject--so, there must have been "reasons" they spent money on "packing materials/techniques". Therefore, since I have seen too many destroyed beyond repair, I advise that the following be done PRIOR to moving any brand/type of machine.

If possible, locate any printed material from the factory, explaining how to prepare it for transportation.

If this can not be done --ask here, giving the brand and model number. If no answers, use "common sense"--Do NOT, tilt, or set any unit on it's side or back--even if, "runners" are provided ! ( NOTE: the "runners" are NOT provided as "skids", to lay it on it's back-- they are provided to insure that the jukebox never is flat against anything--that space is needed for ventilation.) Secure {using "tape", wires--twist ties}, or remove, the tone-arm, or cartridge, and any thing else that's "floating free" records--record "trays" {on older units}, turntables {on some units}, ---all in all, ANYTHING that moves--slides, or can be "twisted", during the process. Be sure all "detachable" panels are firmly locked in place--door's included ! No loose glass, as you can bet it will be destroyed ! Should the jukebox be a Seeburg brand, built from the 1949 model B, on up to the SMC models--do NOT tighten the 3 or 4 (depending on model) nuts holding the mechanism down, UNLESS, you add the 1/4 inch shims, under the mech frame, AND, you also install the two long shipping thumb {1/4-20} screws, (using the holes provided in them), into the carriage, itself ! Park the mechanism on the end of the end of the record rack, that has the "holes" in it, for inserting the mentioned thumb screws, or you risk bending the main frame ! ( see the I & O, or Maintenance Manual !)

LOCK THE "DOORS"!!!!  No key-- buy one, prior to moving--- see books/parts suppliers sticky-- ?

One other thing I have done, very often----remove the guts, and then the cabinet is easier to move---

  

>>>>KEEP it out of the sunlight <<<<< !!

More brand specific stuff I have thought of---

WurliTzer 45 rpm models--

Vertical play models-- Tie a string/ribbon around the "extrusion" under the tone arm that holds the compression spring and the tone arm-- spring has a nasty habit of "flying away" when phono is moved. Tighten ( model specific) the  four "hold down wing screws"  under the mechanism shelf-- secure using bailing wire thru the holes in the wing screws. On later phono's, these are large hex head /screwdriver boltz , on the top side of the shelf, held by a retainer.

AMi/Rowe -- Post WW 2 Models

ALL models-- remove the turntable !   Tie down, or tape down (well !) the tone arm !  Later Rowe's-- be sure REAR of tone arm,

is secured !! If able, to do so, correctly (!), lock down mechanism, or if not able, remove it !  Remove the Amp.

AMi "Continental's"--  REMOVE the title strip holder-- that "neck" gets broken easily !  

RockOla-- Post WW 2--

Remove Turn table ( later models)  Tape tone arm down--

Ron Rich

[tunesandcoffee]

Hello from Hazel Park Michigan!

I will be moving a Rock-Ola 1446.  The only thing I see in the manual I have is to securely tighten the four anchor bolts?  Do I do that?? 

I will make sure to remove anything that seems removable and fragile, as well as securing the tonearm.  I am hiring movers, so at least it should have a semi-secure ride. 

Thanks in advance.  I'm new here, and will prolly have lots of questions a bit later!

Joseph O'Brien

[Ron Rich]

Hi Joseph,
My experiences with "movers" has been dismal-- do not allow them to "blanket wrap" the phono to hand transport it-- they tend to "forget" where the "glass" is, when covered--- do wrap it in the truck ! Ron Rich

[assymion]

I want to transport my AMI H 1957 MANUAL SELECTION . can I put it on its back,? obviously having bolted the deck down and removing the turntable and securing the tone arm.

[Ron Rich]

Did you read the posts in this section--It's my opinion, that moving a jukebox on it's back is NEVER, a good idea ! Ron Rich

[bossman12]

I just won a Seeburg DS 160 (1961 model year) at auction. I will be picking it up early next week. I played with it a little at the preview day and it lights up, accepts coins and when you make a selection it will move to find the record. It appears to find the correct record, loads it to play, and starts to play by dropping the needle at the outer edge of the record. I hear a brief sound of typical needle noise before it hits the recorded tract so I am fairly sure the amplifier is working to some extent. However, it then withdraws the needle, replaces the record and starts scanning for two cycles and stops at the far right.

I am going into this much detail because I feel that the unit is "almost there" and I don't want to damage it when I pick it up to transport it to my home. I have no idea how it was handled to get it to the auction barn but the insides look to be fairly clean. I intend to place it in my clean horse trailer which has thick rubber padding on the floor and the lift from the ground is about 6 inches. What is the minimum that I should do to secure it internally for transport? I am only going about 30 miles on highways. Also, is it better to load it with the mechanism in line with the direction of travel fore and aft, or across the direction of travel left to right?

I have purchased the Seeburg DS 160 manual as well as Ron's book 2nd edition, but they won't be here before I have to move the unit. I am looking forward to having this in my family room where it will be played regularly. I have worked in RF Generator electronics for over 40 years, but have never touched a jukebox. Any help would be appreciated.

[Ron Rich]

Hi,
I would advise you to read our FAQ's section, including the first part of this thread, and the "Hi Newbies" post. -remove all records, and be sure everything's secure-- doors LOCKED, or, if not possible, taped securely, Keep it upright-- Ron Rich .

[bossman12]

Thank you, sir. I will certainly spend more time looking at the material.

[don1964]

Hi. I'm new here and do not have a manual to the Rockola Grand Prix 1964 I inherited. I've got to get it out of a basement this week.
Looking for advice on how to lighten the load and move without damaging it. It will remain upright. I can secure parts you mentioned but
are there critical parts that should be removed or secured on this model for transporting it?

Thanks!

[Ron Rich]

Don,
Please read all of the posts here- You can "remove" anything you wish-- It all went into the cabinet-- therefore----
Ron Rich

[amieb]

We need to move an AMI 89 Jukebox. Any advice would be appreciated. It's been emptied of records but we have no idea how heavy it is or what we will need to move it.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Ami,
Average jukebox weight is in the 350 lbs area-- On a Rowe R-89, the mechanism comes out easily, as does the amplifier-- that along with the front door is a big part of the weight. Ron Rich

[andrewski]

I want to buy a AMI Rowe R-80 and I read your top post in this thread.  I purchased the manual for the jukebox and talked to the owner about the shipping bolt which he doesn't have.  You wrote that removing parts from a R-89 to save weight is not hard.  Is that the same with the R-80? Do you have an other advice?  I plan on tying down anything that moves, keeping it upright and covering it with furniture pads and a tarp but 360 lbs is heavy. 

[rockinrob]

I'm going to be picking up a 1964 Rock-ola Rhapsody 2 this weekend. I will be loading it into a Toyota Tundra. I currently don't have any documentation on it and was wondering on how easy it is to remove the turntable and any other suggestions one might have regarding transporting it. I have tie straps and blankets and even some Styrofoam padding. It is 58' tall, 32 wide and 24 deep.

Thanks.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Rob,
Just "lift up", on the Turn Table-- nothing more to say on this subject--READ all above posts ! Ron Rich