Remote Selectors
Many of Seeburg's Coin-operated Remote Selectors (Wallboxes and Consolettes) are featured below. Not included are the wireless Wallboxes of the 30s and 40s.
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The famous 3W1 Wallbox.
100 Selections. The 3W1 'Wall O Matic' was introduced along with the
M100A jukebox (first ever 100
selection mechanism, 78rpm) in 1948 as a 1949 model. The original
version had the same red keyboard (numbers--letters) as the M100A. They were
solid red with the letter or number embossed in the plastic, and filled
with a white paint. The next version was introduced in 1949, along with
the M100B, the first 45rpm
jukebox ever produced. Both the phono and the Wall-O-Matic featured the
translucent type keys, which have the white caps outlining the red
letters/numbers (as shown at left) and in the 3W1, is back lit, with
two small lamps. Even though the competitors introduced their own versions
of the Wallbox,
all manufacturers eventually offered a stepper compatible with the 3W1.
The name comes from the number of wires required to connect the Wallbox
to the jukebox: 3. Two of the wires were for power (24 VAC and
ground). The other sent the selection as a series of pulses to ground.
The pulses were used to repeatedly energize a relay in the remote
control stepper (standard equipment in some Seeburg jukes, optional in
others), which in turn wrote the selection into the jukebox's memory.
The last version of the 3W1 featured blue title strip holder pages, and
an improved lock to attach them to the Wallbox, both of which were
carried over to the 3W100 model, see below. 3W1D: uses the same style cabinet as the 3W1, but was factory set for 10 cent (Dime) play. The coin acceptor had a nickel flipper which flipped every other nickel past the coin switch, thus requiring two nickels to be inserted for one credit. Thanks to Ron Rich for providing most of the above information. Books applicable to this machine: None |
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From the original M100A brochure, this is a
scan of the beige-finished 3W1 Wallbox. Later versions were
chrome-plated. Scan courtesy Hildegard Stamann. Books applicable to this machine: None |
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3W100 Wallbox. 100
Selections. A styling update of the 3W1.
AP3W1: was the same as the 3W100, except that the front glass has 'Artist of the Week' silk-screened across the top, where as the 3W1D said 'Seeburg', and it had a connector available for an optional headset that could be used to hear your selection. This optional headset, and the hanger for it was part of a kit, sold separately. In addition to the headset, it required the purchase of a Stereo Headset Control (one control for up to 20 Wallboxes), and the use of eight-wire cable. The audio was only available during the two-scan cycle of the phonograph. Another selection would need to be made after the jukebox motor stopped, in order to be heard at an individual Wallbox, same as for the later Consolette speakers. Thanks to Ron Rich for providing most of the above information. Books applicable to this machine: None |
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3WA Wallbox. 200
Selections. Introduced at the same time as the 200-selection
V200, the new Wallbox
was needed to handle the increased number of selections. At least seven
200-selection Wallboxes were made. They are: V-3WA-N, V-3WA-D: The difference between the -N and -D models was the pricing setup. The -N was set for nickel play (single = 5¢, EP = 10¢, using the DCU Pricing Unit). The -D was dime play (single = 10¢, EP = 15¢, using the DCU-10 Pricing Unit. The pricing on these and the following models was fixed at the factory. It could not be changed without new parts or jury-rigging. D-3WA, D-3WU: Both of these were set at 10 cents for a single. 'U' indicated a universal model, which could be used on 100, 200, or 160-play jukeboxes. Changing from a 200/160 to a 100-selection model required replacing the number stickers to correspond to the system used on the 100-select models. The stickers were included with the Wallbox. These models came with 'tie backs' that would lock all unused pages from turning. Changing to a 160 only required using the tie backs, and ignoring the 9 and 0 buttons on the keyboard. A clip was inserted into the keyboard, preventing 9 and 0 from being pushed for the 160-plat version. For the 100-play version, the clip prevented the L through V buttons from being pushed. Both models were equipped with the DPU-10 Pricing Unit. The 'D' stands for Dual Pricing.
S-3WA, S-3WU: This Wallbox was
single pricing only (the 'S' stands for Single). The customer was required to make
selections after depositing each coin. The pricing setup could
be changed on this mode, without using new parts. S-3WU
was a single pricing version of the 3WU.
HD-3WA, HD-3WU: The two HD units were almost the same as the other Dual Pricing units, except that the coin acceptor now took the half dollar. The upper section of the cover was different, as was the coin entry. Thanks to Ron Rich for providing all of the above. Books applicable to this machine: None
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3W160 Wallbox. 160
Selections. Specifically designed to handle the new 160-selection
machines. D-3W160: Dual pricing, using the DPU10. S-3W160: Single pricing. Thanks to Ron Rich for providing all of the above. Books applicable to this machine: None
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SC, SCH Consolettes: Price (October, 1963) $265. Introduced at the same time as the LPC1 Console was the Stereo Consolette or SC1. Three models were produced. The SC1 had a chrome finish (shown at left). The SC-2 had an antique bronze finish, and the SC-3 had a Golden finish. See the following photo. The SCH models were produced as a chrome finish(-1) and SCH-2, an antique bronze. They were introduced along with the SS160 phonograph (1965 introduction for 1966 model year), and can be distinguished from the SC series as having a larger coin entry to accommodate the U.S. half-dollar coin. They are NOT backwards compatible with the SC models due to revised audio control circuits. They can be used on a separate circuit; one additional wire must be added to the ten wire cable to use these on the same jukebox as the SC models, if you want all the features to operate. They will not operate with older jukeboxes unless the juke itself is modified. The SCH also differed in that it would accept half-dollar coins (the 'H' in SCH), while the SC models took only nickels, dimes and quarters. They had a pair of speakers built in, so that you could hear your selection, and at the same time control the volume. Also included was the ability to remotely keep track of the amount of money in each Consolette, recorded on the optional Remote Income Totalizer, a box located in the Console. When Seeburg introduced these units, they decided to make them as incompatible as possible with the older 3W1, 3W100, 3WA, and 3W160 Wallboxes, to guarantee that the competitor's Wallboxes would not work. To do this, the order of selection transmission was reversed, and the number of pulses output for each letter and number selection was changed. It was relatively straightforward to 'reprogram' the Remote Control Stepper to handle these changes, but the wiring inside the earlier Stepper was too short to do so easily. After a couple of years of major complaints by the operators this was fixed, and instructions were included in the Stepper kit showing how to covert for 3Wx use. With the introduction of the Black and Gray box machines, a translator (SRT1) was made available to translate the codes output by the SC/SCH series Consolettes into the format used by these new machines. With effort, it is possible to convert an SRT for use with a 3Wx Wallbox. Photo supplied by Kevin Green. Much of the above information was provided by Ron Rich. Books applicable to this machine: Console-Era Jukeboxes |
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Left-to-Right: SC1, SC3, SC2. Photo courtesy Kevin Green.
Books applicable to this machine: Console-Era Jukeboxes |
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Text below and photo at left
provided by Kevin Green:
This is an EBCS2 (Extended Bass Consolette Speaker). The EBCS1 had a different finish (Walnut Grain Decarlite for the 1, same as the LPC1 cabinet, and Planked Cherry Decarlite for the 2, same as the LPC480 cabinet so the colors would match on location), they had different bass ports, and the interior layout is different. Inside, there's a fluorescent light, a Stereo Network, and a single 8" woofer. The EBCS1 had a rectangular hole sawn in the panel next to the speaker with a (presumably wooden) box projecting back to serve as the bass port. When they designed the EBCS2, they realized that drilling two circular holes and jamming sections of cardboard tubing into them was cheaper and easier. The EBCS1 had a Cam-Action Terminal Strip inside for ease of wiring, and the EBCS2 didn't. In any case, the EBCS was sold without the Consolette attached. Any of the SC or SCH Consolettes could be installed onto it, as could the DECs (although I assume this thing was discontinued before the black and gray box machines came along). The Consolette is connected to the phonograph in the normal manner, then the Consolette speaker 'hot' wires are disconnected. Five wires are run up through the bottom of the Consolette from the EBCS Stereo Network. These are ground, Left and Right input, and Left and Right output. By connecting it in this fashion, the Audio Control Relay can be used to turn the Consolette speakers and the EBCS speaker on and off, and the volume control in the Consolette will also work for both. There are three LLP (Little LP) frames behind the glass, which are the same parts used in the LPCs. One interesting thing is that the front door which holds the speaker and the album frames is exactly the same part as the LPC1 front speaker/door, but it is turned on its side. When I got this EBCS2, the chrome was hopelessly pitted, and I bought an LPC1 front door to replace it. Of course, the Consolette is powered in the conventional way, and the fluorescent light plugs in to the wall. 25" Wide, 34" High, 10" Deep.
This at first seems like a totally
absurd idea -- after all, the Consolette is supposed to be small
and compact. What's the point of making it much bigger? I
assume it's because so many bars and restaurants have both a
main room and a back room. If your patrons are gathered in the
back room drinking and playing pool, they don't want to trudge
out to the main room to play music, so the EBCS would be a
perfect solution for getting more dimes and quarters out of
their pockets.
Books applicable to this machine: Console-Era Jukeboxes |
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DEC1, 2, 3, 4 Digital Electronic Consolette, built over several years. It was designed specifically for the Black & Gray box machines. DEC1 (shown at left), and DEC3 were chrome. DEC2, DEC4 (below) were bronze-colored. Other than that, they were very similar. All used the black box internally. The only difference between the DEC1 and DEC3, and DEC2 and DEC4, was that the newer models had a small plastic 'jewel' inserted into a hole molded in the case just above the selector, which served as a 'pilot light' to indicate it was on, and a different selector, which flashes the 'Reset and Re-Select' lamp when an incorrect selection is made. The selector was changed back to the non-flashing version in later production, undoubtedly as a cost reduction. Another difference is in the volume control board for the speakers. The DEC3, 4 used a less complicated and therefore cheaper switch on this board. Translators were available to use any of these with the Red box (DCT1) or MCU (DMT1) machines. Suggested retail price (DEC3, 4September, 1974) USD $354.00. Books applicable to this machine: Black & Gray, Red & MCU |
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DEC2, DEC4 (shown at left) in 'Antique Bronze'. See the comments above for the DEC1. Suggested retail price (DEC2, September, 1974) USD $349.00. Books applicable to this machine: Black & Gray, Red & MCU |
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Photo Needed! |
There was also an Extended Bass Consolette
Speaker stand for the DEC-series Consolettes, that included a Dollar
Bill Validator. It looked similar to the EBCS1 & 2, see
above. Anyone having a photo or more information on this, please contact me, and I'll post them here, giving credit. |
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This is a picture of the prototype VMC
Consolette, taken from the VMC brochure. I believe there was only one
built, the working prototype used for this photo. The Consolette was
designed to use the same board as the top control board of the VMC, with
a smaller thumbwheel and pushbutton board and a 9-inch monochrome
monitor to display selection and location info. Books applicable to this machine: None |
