Wurlitzer Update #1: Amplifier Smoke Test

Since acquiring what is probably my most ambitious project to date, the 1937 Wurlitzer automatic phonograph (jukebox), model 616A, I've been mostly in research mode. I also acquired most of the parts my unit was missing, which is a pretty good accomplishment considering what it was lacking were some very hard-to-find pieces. The coin mechanism, for example, can cost hundreds of dollars, and that's if you can even find one (many coin mechanisms were removed from old machines by the vending companies so no one else could use the jukebox to compete against them). I went to an amazing old building in western Massachusetts that had three floors packed with antique jukebox parts, but even they didn't have many of the things I needed. Luckily, I found most of the parts I needed on a similar machine that was up for auction on eBay, and the seller agreed to remove and send them to me for a very good price.

One of those parts was the amplifier. Amps of this vintage are big, heavy things with lots of transformers and vacuum tubes. I had to find a few replacement tubes, and the power cord was just a couple of strands of wire blowing in the breeze, but when I rectified those problems I was ready for a smoke test. A smoke test is just what it sounds like: plug it in and look for smoke. Smoke, as in most other situations, usually means something is wrong. Well, the tubes lit up, and there was the faintest hum. Then a little crackling noise. And then, a little whisp of smoke coming from...somewhere. I checked the unit and tried a few more times, but no more smoke. The unit hasn't had power going through it in decades so it could have just been some dirt getting singed. But, the amp didn't go up in flames so I'm calling this a success. I'll have to wait to do some additional testing, but for now it looks like we have an amplifier.
-K