Of all the jukebox companies, Wurlitzer was the most prestigious. First founded as the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company in 1856, the company adopted the patents for the Simplex mechanism in 1933, which became - in one form or another - the basis of their music players. After years of supplying pianos and coin organs, this soon became their core business.
The Model 500 was launched in 1938 and became one of the most popular models of its time. It was a time of great change in the United States, with cars becoming faster and more comfortable, and road trips becoming part of everyday life. Naturally, this also meant the emergence of roadside attractions.
These included restaurants, hotels, bars, truck stops, casinos and garages - it wasn't long before America was dotted with places frequented by people enjoying this new era of fashionable optimism. So it's hardly surprising that the Model 500 sold like hotcakes. These 78 rpm record players quickly became legendary.
Beautifully presented, with no apparent cracks or fractures in the Catalin decoration, this superb jukebox appears to be very well preserved. We are informed that it has been restored in the past, and a close look at the machine shows how perfectly it matches the original 1930s specification.
Inside the case, all the fittings appear clean and well-presented, and we have not been informed of any technical problems. This is a wonderful example of a jukebox that was once synonymous with American nightlife, comfort - and a slice of pie at a cosy diner.
BEFORE YOU BUY This sale is subject to Car & Classic's terms and conditions. By bidding and/or making a bid, you also agree to the following: ✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights under European consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic's returns policy applies. ✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at the auction or if your bid is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details. ✓ Buyers are responsible for delivery. Postage must be paid to the seller privately at the buyer's expense, unless other arrangements are agreed between buyer and seller. VAT is included in the deposit paid by the buyer. VAT may or may not be included in the final price of the offer or quotation, as specified in the advertisement.
If an auction vehicle doesn't sell, it may be converted into a “Make an offer” listing. This will retain all of the details of the auction listing but replace the bidding functionality with an offering system whereby potential buyers can make an offer on the vehicle. To take the hassle out of the whole process and to prevent any unnecessary squabbling we'll automatically decline anything less than 70% of the asking price so only offers that are worth considering will be accepted. Make an offer listings include a “Make an offer” button. Simply click on this and enter the amount you’d like to offer and the seller will either accept, decline or counter. Easy peasy. If you don’t have a Car & Classic account with a registered bank card you’ll be prompted to set one up at this point.
If your offer is accepted, you’ll be charged a service fee. The amount depends on the cost of the vehicle and is an additional cost on top of the offer amount. Starting from as little as £/€300, it covers the cost of our various auction and escrow services, but rest assured, we're not in the woollen eyewear business and so the exact amount is always displayed upfront before you place your bid. You will only be charged if your offer is accepted.
The service fee is a charge in addition to any accepted offer amount that varies depending on the cost of the vehicle. Starting from as little as £/€300, the exact fee is clearly displayed upfront before any offer is placed so you always know exactly how much you'll be charged. It covers the cost of our various auction and escrow services and allows us to continue to provide a secure and professional platform from which to transact safely.
If you've ever squeezed a lemon then this'll be a doddle. Firstly you'll need to be logged in to your Car & Classic account and have added a valid payment card to your profile. Once these steps have been completed you can then make an offer by clicking on the "Make an offer" button on the listing page and entering your offer amount before clicking on the “Submit Offer” button underneath.