…or go for a record with a jukebox

THE golden era of the jukebox was in the 1940s and 1950s – and models from this time can command five-figure prices.

The 1946 Wurlitzer 1015, with its rounded top and bubble tubes, is perhaps the most iconic and can sell for £15,000. Although a great looking machine it is not the most practical as this American classic may hold only 24 songs on fast-playing 78rpm records.

Later examples, such as the 1960s Rock-Ola 1485 – as seen on the TV pop show Jukebox Jury – can sell for £12,000 and hold 100 of the more modern 45rpm disc tunes.

Subsequent models, such as the 1980s Wurlitzer Carillon, can still sell for more than £1,000 because of their solid build and iconic name. But there are other highly sought-after machines available. These include the 1958 Seeburg 201 Select-O-Matic that can trade for more than £8,000. Another is the Seeburg 161, with its Cadillac-style chrome bumper and fins, that can sell for as much as £12,000. British copycats include a 1950s BALAMi. In July this year, a BAL-AMi ‘in very poor condition and in need of complete restoration’ sold for £3,400, far exceeding the £500 estimate.

In tip-top condition, these jukeboxes can sell for £12,000.

Jukeboxes get their name from ‘juke joints’. These were black dancing clubs held in the American Deep South that attracted revellers in the early 20th Century.