M100A    100 Selections, 78 RPM.

Introduced December, 1948.     Price: $995.    Pricing: 1 play, 5¢. 2 plays, 10¢. 6 plays, 25¢.

The machine that put Seeburg into the forefront of jukebox design. At a time when the competition could offer 20 or at most 24 selections, Seeburg shocked them all (Wurlitzer, Rock-Ola, and Rowe/AMI) with a proven 100-selection mechanism. This machine would play either side of 50, 10- or 12- inch 78 RPM records. The record sizes could be intermixed in any proportion. The other manufacturers were left scrambling to catch up, taking years in some cases. Since this novel mechanism was interesting to watch, it was featured in the machine's design, located right up front and at the top where you could watch it do its thing. With the introduction of this machine, Seeburg took over leadership in design and new features, never looking back.

The basic mechanism (but with 200 selections) had been used as the basis of Seeburg's SICM (Seeburg Industrial Commercial Music) system, and proven in the field for a full year before the introduction of the jukebox version. The mechanism itself had been in development since 1939 (with a four-year hiatus known as World War II).

Many of these machines have been converted to play either 45 RPM records (by changing out the mechanism) or to play 33 1/3 RPM 12-inch albums (by changing the gearset and installing a stereo cartridge.

There was also a hideaway version of this machine (HM100A) introduced in September of 1949, which cost $795. A hideaway is a jukebox designed for use with Wallboxes. It has no Selector or Pricing Unit, is in a plain cabinet, and has no speakers (except a small one for testing the amplifier.

Books applicable to this machine: None

Introduced October, 1950.    Price: $975.    Pricing: 1 play, 5¢. 2 plays, 10¢. 6 plays, 25¢.

Fast-forward to 1950. Seeburg worked with RCA to introduce the 45 RPM record to the public, while claiming that they would only go to 45 RPM when the public demanded it. Styling-wise, this is a warmover of the M100A design. This and all later machines until 1986 used the same basic mechanism. Later machines would introduce 200 and then 160 selections (using a wider base plate and magazine) and newer pickups (including stereo), but the basic design remained the same for 36 years! Talk about a well-designed and bullet-proof machine. Also, the selection system would be updated as technology permitted. The original selection system used 100 magnet-operated levers to indicate that a selection had been made. In 1955, this was replaced with the famous Tormat (having no moving parts). Finally, a semiconductor memory replaced the Tormat in 1978.

There was also a model M100BL, identical except that the cabinet wood is lighter in color (blonde), and the mechanism is green and its cover is silver. The front mirrors have a bluish tint. Thanks for Pat Miller (no relation) for passing this information on. It was introduced in October, 1951, and cost $1050. A hideaway version (HM100B) was introduced in July, 1951, and cost $862.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced May, 1952.   Price $1050.    Pricing: 1 play, 5¢. 2 plays, 10¢. 6 plays, 25¢.

A brand-new cabinet design featuring rotating color cylinders in the translucent pilasters to attract customer attention.

A hideaway version of this machine (HM100C) was introduced in May, 1952, and cost $862.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced September, 1953.   Price $1050.    Pricing: 1 play, 5¢. 2 plays, 10¢. 6 plays, 25¢.

Yet another warmover of the M100C cabinet, this time with bright graphics on the pilasters.

A hideaway version of this machine (H100W) was introduced in September, 1953, and cost $862.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced September, 1953.   Price $1095.    Pricing: 1 play, 5¢. 2 plays, 10¢. 6 plays, 25¢.

This is a warmover of the M100C cabinet, with the translucent pilasters replaced with stainless steel. Probably, many operators complained of customers breaking the pilasters with their barstools or feet.

With this model, Seeburg introduced the first coin-op 'high-fidelity' system, with an improved amplifier and multiple speakers. A 15-inch woofer and a 5-inch tweeter were used, with the low-frequency sounds directed to the woofer, and high frequency sounds went to the tweeter.

A hideaway version of this machine (HHF100G) was introduced in January, 1954, and cost $895.

Introduced August, 1954.   Price $1095.    Pricing: 1 play, 5¢. 2 plays, 10¢. 6 plays, 25¢.

A hideaway version of this machine (HHF100R) was introduced in August, 1954, and cost $895.

Brand-new cabinet design, featuring maximum visibility of the mechanism

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced August, 1955.   Price $1095.    Pricing: 1 play, 5¢. 2 plays, 10¢. 6 plays, 25¢.

The 100JL was introduced in October, 1956 and is similar, using a different mechanism, selector, and color scheme. Its price was $1145.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced August, 1955.    Price $1195.  Dual pricing.

Here, Seeburg introduced three major innovations: 200 selections, dual pricing, and the solid-state Tormat memory. Just when the competition had caught up with 100 selections (some had temporarily eclipsed Seeburg with 120), Seeburg turned around and offered 200 selections. For Seeburg, this was a simple change, just revise the base casting and put more separators in the record magazine, especially as compared to everyone else, who would have to redesign their entire carousel systems to keep up. Dual pricing offered the possibility of charging more for playing an E.P (Extended Play) record, having two selections per side. The Tormat used computer memory cores to remember which selections had been made but not yet played, replacing the magnet-operated levers used in the previous machines. Another innovation is the motor-operated selection drum. With 200 selections, a significant amount of cabinet would be taken up by the title strips. Instead, 40 selections are displayed at a time, with five push-button switches used to move between selection groups. The groups included: Hit Tunes, Rhythm & Blues, Folk & Western, All-time Favorites, and Classics & Varieties. The motor-operated drum sometimes gave problems, so aftermarket suppliers such as Wico, Inc., offered a 'flat-top' kit to replace the upper portion of the cabinet with a title board displaying all 200 titles. Unfortunately, this detracts from the value of the machine. The horizontal grille bars of this machine, shows the Detroit styling influence, similar to the automobiles of the time.

There was also a hideaway version of this machine (HV200) introduced in August, 1955.  It cost $975.

The VL200 was introduced in October, 1956, and is similar, with different cabinet and mechanism colors. Its price was $1295. There was also a hideaway version of this machine (HVL200) introduced in October, 1956. It cost $990.

KS200 200 Selections, 45 RPM. Single Pricing

KS200H 200 Selections, 45 RPM, Single Pricing. Accepts half dollars.

KD200 200 Selections, 45 RPM.  Dual Pricing.

KD200H 200 Selections, 45 RPM, Dual Pricing. Accepts half dollars.

Introduced March, 1957.   Price: $1325.

New cabinet design that still used the rotary drum title strip setup of the V. This machine featured an improved version of the Tormat selection system, which was simplified, and made more reliable. Unfortunately, a printed circuit board system was introduced for this model and the L100 (see below) which proved to be very unreliable. The combination of the early printed circuit board (PCB) material, eyelets to make connection between the top and bottom sides of the PCB, solder flux, and the high temperatures from the tubes caused many intermittent problems with the electronics in this machine.

The Detroit-inspired styling is readily apparent with the three tailfins below the selector.

There was also a hideaway version of this machine (HK200).

L100 100 Selections, 45 RPM.

Introduced March, 1957.    Price: $1095.

With this model, Seeburg introduced the two model concept: 200 selections for the top-of-the-line locations, 100 selections for smaller locations and export. This machine also featured the electronics on PCB, and shares the reliability problems of the KS/KD200. Both machines, if properly repaired with special attention paid to insuring solid connections between the components and PCB, will give years of solid listening pleasure.

Introduced January, 1958.    Price: $1095.

Note this picture is the same as the previous one. The difference between machines is that the 101 did away with the printed circuit board amplifier and selection receiver, reverting to the tried-and-true directly wired chassis. Seeburg would not return to using printed circuit boards until 1968, with the introduction of the LS2, even though all machines built after the 1964 LPC480 were all solid-state, removing the heat source (the tubes) which was so problematic with the KS/KD200 and L100.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book 

161SH 160 Selections, 45 RPM. Single Pricing.  Accepts half dollars.

161D 160 Selections, 45 RPM. Dual Pricing.

161DH 160 Selections, 45 RPM. Dual Pricing. Accepts half dollars.

Introduced January, 1958. Price: $1275.

Seeburg introduced what was to become its and industry's standard number of selections, 160. EP (Extended Play) record play was featured, using a dual pricing unit to permit those EPs to be charged at a higher rate. EPs had two songs per record side.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book 

Introduced January, 1958.    Price: $1350.

Note the styling similarity between this machine and the 161 preceding. While the cabinet is wider to accommodate the 200 selection mechanism, the most notable difference is the number of 'tail lights': the 201 has three, while the 161 has only two. These two machines are the high point of Seeburg's Detroit styling influence. This will be the last 200-selection machine built by Seeburg for several years. Only in 1982 did Seeburg offer another 200-selection machine, the low-production VMC.

There was also a hideaway version of this machine (H201).

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

220SR 100 Selections, 45 RPM. Single Pricing. Built-in Stepper for remote operation.

Introduced October, 1958.    Price: $1420

This machine and the 222 (following) were the first jukeboxes to offer stereophonic sound, which Seeburg made a big deal of with the 'Channel 1', 'Channel 2' prominent styling cues. Otherwise, the cabinets are very similar to the preceding 161 and 201.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book  

222DHR 160 Selections, 45 RPM. Dual Pricing. Accepts half dollars. Built-in Stepper for remote operation.

Introduced October, 1958.    Price: $1575.

See comments above regarding the introduction of stereo sound. Actually, the stereo effect was minimal given the separation between channels (on the order of about two feet). This would finally be addressed with the DS100 and DS160 of 1961, the last of the 'Silver Age' machines. Note the virtually identical appearance between this and the 220. The main difference is the additional panel of title strips above the mechanism.

There was also a hideaway version of this machine (H222).

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced November, 1959.    Price: $1325.

This and the Q160 (below) introduced the 'Little LP' concept, replacing the EP 45 RPM records having two selections per side with a 33 1/3 7-inch record with three selections per side. In order to play these records, an optional Auto-Speed electronic power oscillator was required, to change the frequency of the AC power to the mechanism motor from the nominal 60 Hz (U.S.) to about 44 Hz. For Europe and Japan, the motor Mains supply was changed from 50 to about 36 Hz. When so equipped, the model number became AQ100 ('A' signifying Album play). The albums were the standard 7-inch diameter, but had a smaller center hole (5/16 inch) versus the nominal 1 1/4 inch center hole of the 45 RPM record. The smaller hole prevented the mechanism clamp arm from inserting completely into the record, closing a switch to activate the Auto-Speed. Many 45 RPM singles in Europe also use the smaller center hole, requiring the use of a 'dinker' to permit them to be played machines equipped with the Auto-Speed.

This model introduced a new cabinet design. Mechanism visibility is starting to be restricted, with more space taken up by the title strips and graphics.

There was also a hideaway version of this machine (HQ100SR).

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced November, 1959.    Price: $1490.

When equipped to play albums, the model number becomes AQ160.

Note the extended top panel to mount the additional title strips. Other than that, the cabinets are identical.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced October, 1960.    Price: $1490.

With no Auto-Speed and dual pricing, this machine becomes the Y100.

There was a Universal Pricing version of this machine (AY100U), introduced in April, 1961. A hideaway version of this machine (HY100UR) was also available.

Same basic cabinet as the Q100, Q160.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced October, 1960.    Price: $1512.

With no Auto-Speed and dual pricing, this machine becomes the Y160. This machine introduced the 'Artist of the Week' program, in which every week a different artist was featured, along with a small album cover at the right of the vertical panel. Here, the additional title strips are positioned below the vanishing mechanism viewing glass.

This is the first Seeburg machine to be named by the marketing department. Its name is 'Artist of the Week'.

There was a Universal Pricing version of this machine (AY160U), introduced in April, 1961. A hideaway version of this machine (HY160UR) was also available.

Same basic cabinet as the Q100, Q160.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced December, 1961.    Price: $1530.

Very similar to the DS160 below. Photo provided by Patrick Jordan.  Thanks, Patrick! The only exterior difference between this machine and the DS160 is that the title strips below the small mechanism viewing window have been deleted, and replaced with graphics showing un-attached hands playing instruments. The instruments are (left to right) trombone (my oldest son plays a mean trombone!), clarinet, trumpet (played by my youngest son), and guitar. These graphics are identical to those on the AY100, above.

Same basic cabinet as the Q100, Q160.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book

Introduced December, 1961.    Price: $1572.

Artist of the Week is again a big deal. Note the 'ear' speakers, to the left and right of the top panel. Each speaker could be positioned so as to direct the sound away from the machine, giving a better sense of stereo separation. The ear speakers give this machine its name: 'Directional Stereo'.

Same basic cabinet as the Q100, Q160.

This is the last machine of the 'Silver Age'. The next year Seeburg introduced the LPC1 'LP Console'. Click here to see it.

Books applicable to this machine: Mech book