Rowe AMI JAL-200 Title Strip Rack question

[Yuppie011]

Hi Everyone.  My name is David and I just purchased a 1963 Rowe AMI JAL-200 (in AMAZING condition) that has been converted to the "100 selection" option as part of it's "Three-in-One" conversion capabilities.  I am hoping to convert it back to a 200 selection option and had a question on the upper Title Strip Racks.  They are certainly VERY difficult to find listed for the JAL/JEL '63 model, but I am finding a lot of options available for the next model year (1964 JBM-200) available.  Will these racks work on mine as well?  It doesn't look like much changed between these two model years outside of some of the cosmetics of the case, but I am hoping that these might be interchangeable.

Been lurking for a while and really appreciate any help you can lend. Thanks

[jukenorman]

Hi David,
I'm fairly sure that the JAL and JBM title strip holders are dimensionally the same but the JAL is made from white plastic while the JBM is clear plastic. The ident strips on the side will also be a different colour. Although I was aware of the options available on the JAL, I've never come across a 200 play unit converted to 100. I take it that you have 30 pushbuttons on yours and that there are 200 pins in the search unit?

Norman.

[Yuppie011]

Thanks for the response Norman.  Yes, standard button plate, but only buttons 1-5 with a cover over the remaining space between the last key and the coin slot.  

This is what I figured.  Most of the images I have seen show they are basically the same trays, but with different colour lettering.  Really appreciate the help and insights.  I'll try to post some pics before and when I get done the conversion (assuming there isn't other "challenges" to overcome) 

Best to you and I'll keep you all updated on progress.

[jukenorman]

So you'll also have to get pushbuttons? I take it that the button bank switch assy has the five switches? Have you also checked the search unit? I think the 100 units only had every second pin installed? You can post pictures, of course!

Norman.

[Yuppie011]

Hey Jukenorman...sorry for the delayed reply, but I have been busy working on the box to get it back to life.  Overall it was is fairly good order with a bunch of dirty contacts and half of the pre-amp tubes wouldn't glow...fixed that.  Also, the right speaker was having some quality issues which I am slowly chasing down and it improving.  Most of the case and mechanics were a mess between dust, mold, and pounds of grease over the mechanism, which I have improved on greatly.  Search board cracked in half when I was trying to work on it, so that was replaced. Been fun so far.  The service manuals are a GODSEND!!!!

I did order and install the missing 5 buttons (6 through 0) and the pin selector was complete, so really that is all you need to do in order to switch between a 100-160-200 song version (thank goodness!!!).  I also got ~700 45rpm records with the box and have been digging through those.  I think I'm gonna need another juke since there are a LOT of great ones there.  

Thanks for your insights on the song board holders and I am going to slowly start grabbing some of them up  as I stumble across them on eBay, etc.

Best to you!!!

[jukenorman]

Looks good and I pleased and pleasantly surprised that it was so easy to convert to 200 play! The JAL is a really good sounding jukebox and the stereoround has been simplified a bit from the Continental 2.

Norman.