Does anyone have info on what a 1954 Wurlitzer would be worth? She still lights up but may need some engineering to play records again. Is there a market for it as is or would you recommend getting it refurbished first? If the latter, where does one get a jukebox refurbished these days?! Any help is appreciated!!
Rest easy re condition. Typically buyers prefer to use their own resources for refurbishment and repairs. Debora
"Does anyone have info on what a 1954 Wurlitzer . . . " Hmmm, and then on it it says "Hi Fidelity" -- I'm just curious but . . . was "Hi-Fidelity" already around as early as 1954?????
In the 1950s, "hi-fi" became the popular term, replacing "phonograph" and "record player". Rather than playing a record "on the phonograph," people would play it "on the hi-fi". In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Westrex invented the stereo record that used two speakers. This led to more improvements in home audio. During the 1930s, Avery Fisher, an amateur violinist, began experimenting with audio design and acoustics. He wanted to make a radio that would sound like he was listening to a live orchestra—that would achieve high fidelity to the original sound.
Google images has hundreds, prices are all over the place. I have a friend who restores and deals in them but he is based in the UK. He deals in any vintage slots. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=1...PsAhWVVBUIHaDqAE8Q9QF6BAgKECE&biw=981&bih=649
In the UK this would be worth a fortune, the antique dealer in my home town makes a living off just selling these, he never has them in his shop for long and they go for £5000+ and they don't look as good as your one.
Nice juke box! I used to have a shop in the 90s where we sold some vintage juke boxes that had been refurbished. Something like this would have sold for $1500 or so back then. Could pick them up needing work for a few hundred. These were Midwest rural prices so probably double that in a big city. I suspect that they have held their value and/or increased in value.... unlike a lot of things these days.
Did a quick auction search and found this working one that sold for $2750.00. https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/65179001_coin-operated-jukebox-wurlitzer-model-1700-104 ....And this one for $4700. https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/89150216_wurlitzer-model-1700-jukebox As I suspected the non-working ones are selling for significantly less.
These were HOT once upon a time for Man Caves, not sure how that is going at the moment. I suspect the bloom is off the whole man cave concept these days......
