“The queen will have music wherever she goes…”David Rockola coined the phrase when he presented Queen Mary with one of his prized jukeboxes during her 1963 visit to the U.S. Rockola.

            The idea of the jukebox was birthed when Wurlitzer Company introduced the first player piano, the Tonophone,  in 1856. Soon after, the coin operated player piano, or Pianola, of the early 1900’s provided nickel entertainment for the whole family. And during the golden age of film, player pianos accompanied the silver screen  to provide the sound of music. These cinemas captivated audiences with the combination of sight and sound from 1900 to 1930.

            The popularity of the cinema gave way to the Nickelodeon, which presented a more personal approach to entertainment and was the last prototype in the wake of a jukebox revolution.

            In 1933 Wurlitzer introduced its first 1934 model jukebox known as the Debutante that sent jazz lovers to the dance floor.  Similar to its predecessors, the jukebox required the proper coinage to operate. In contrast, however, one could choose melodic faves from a loaded carousel of ‘78’s.

            Jukeboxes are in full swing in Old Town Spring. Collector and dealer, Albert John is proud of his machines that adorn the top floor of the new Antiqueland, located at the western entrance to the town. His inventory of juke boxes includes a 1971 Zodiac, a ’73 AMI Rowe, a ’79 Rockola and a ’90 AMI ComboBox Compact Disk juke box. They range in price from $1,100 to $3,600. John also sells his jukeboxes at two other locations at 1488 Antique Mall and the Antique Mall on Spring Cypress.

            His personal collection contains over 20 jukeboxes, dating from 1935 to 1991. He says buying and selling jukeboxes is in his blood.

            “Since I was a kid I loved jukeboxes,” he stated. “I was just out of high school when I bought my first one – a 1962 Seeburg for $250.00. My parents worried about where to keep it and who would repair it. It was pretty cut throat in my family after I bought it, but now my mom has seven jukeboxes in her house.

“Jukeboxes are total enjoyment!” John claims. “You can load the carrousel with all of your favorite music, and to change records you simply open the lid.”

John suggests keeping the carrousel loaded at all times “to keep it from getting out of whack.” He also says that a jukebox can change your life. “If you are having a bad day you can put on some soft jazz and if you’re having a great day, you can play some music that says ‘I can conquer the world.’”

Buying and restoring jukeboxes requires expert advice, he says, consisting of three elements: electronic, mechanic and cosmetic. His motto is “Keep it original . Keep your investment.” He advises that if you replace a component, you’re looking at a 30 to 40 year difference in technology. He also says to make sure the model number if legible. It is essential for the repairman to know the model number to make the appropriate adjustments to the machine and its parts. John’s rule of thumb is “don’t buy something you can’t repair.”

Stroll into the local Denny’s Diner today and a replica 1947 “round top” welcomes you at the door. Instead of dishing out a 45 record, however, it will crank out a top ten CD single. Despite technological advances in the jukebox industry, John still prefers buying antique jukeboxes.

John recommends buying juke boxes from a dealer in person over purchasing them through the Internet.  “You get to see the actual product and learn about its history and particularly about any repairs and restoration.”

John takes pictures during restoration and writes a clear documentation of all the repairs. He recalled a client who purchased a jukebox off the Internet. When it was shipped, the movers didn’t tie it down and a once beautiful, perfect box was demolished.

“If you buy a machine over the Internet, expect it to have problems,” he admonishes.

Jukeboxes bring about nostalgia for the things of he past, but as John states, “They can still satisfy the present From jumpin’ and jivin’ at the Empire Diner to Tennessee Waltzing in Texas-sized dance halls. With a toss of a coin, a push of a button and a flip of a record, Jukeboxes across the nation provide nostalgia in the making. Since the early 1930’s, jukeboxes have rocked history wherever they’ve gone.

You could say the jukebox is the Queen of rock and roll.