Early form of jukebox

Answer 1

Coin-operated phonographs-sometimes called Nickelodeons, were introduced by Edison in about l905 and marketed by the phonograph division of Edison-not the power company. ******** The first jukeboxes were not called jukeboxes. They were coin-operated phonographs. They were not called "record players" either. Phonograph or talking machine were the two main references to the devices. The first commercially successful ones were by Edison and they played cylinders. They were made like a standard home edition phonograph usually attached to a pedestal with a large glass dome exposing the machine so you could watch it operate. Eartubes were connected so you could listen. All early phonographs were spring wound. They incorporated a coin chute that would basically free up the crank. You deposited the coin, turned the crank and when the spring was tight, the crank would lock again. The cylinder would play and at the end it would spring load back to the beginning of the cylinder. That was the initial prototype. They did try ones that played several cylinders to give a selection but those mechanisms were crude and didn't work well. When the flat discs became popular, several offbeat brands tried their hands at automatic phonographs. They were now electrical and usually in huge wooden cabinets. They were an "Automatic Victrola" to put it in a simple term. Again, a large viewing window but most only played one record. Different mechanisms were tried out to play multiple records but still you dropped your nickle in and it was up to the machine to play whatever record it wanted to. There was no selection. By the late 1920's and early 1930's mechanisms were perfected and dependable and selection systems were invented. The person could make their selection, drop the nickel in and play the song of their choice. The rest is history.

Answer 2

1927, The Automatic Music Instrument Company created the world's first electrically amplified multi selection phonograph.

*****

Absolutely correct. The earlier forms were cylinder players. Edison manufactured the first commercially sucessful one. However they were not known as "jukeboxes". They were automatic phonographs. "Jukebox" and "Record player" were not in the vocabulary at that time. "Phonograph" "Gramaphone" or "Talking Machine" were the most common phrases.

The first automatic phonograph was a variation of the home use model. Usually it was mounted on a large pedestal with a large glass dome so patrons could watch the mechanism work. Ear tubes were attached to listen. All early phonographs were spring wound - not electric.

The crank would be locked - you deposited a coin - turned the crank the number of times indicated on the instruction glass - the crank would re-lock and the cylinder would play. When the cylinder was finished, the reproducer would be shot back by spring load to the beginning of the cylinder.

Attempts at making a mechanism that rotated to play several cylinders was tried but failed. Once the flat disc became popular, all kinds of offbeat companies tried their hands at an automatic phonograph. Some were like "Automatic Victrolas" but most had an electric motor so the patron didn't have to wind the machine.

They were accoustical meaning no electric amplification. Most played only one record which got old. All kinds of crazy mechanisms were tried out to play multiple records but the patron still could not select the song being played. It played the records in series. You dropped a coin, it played one record. Drop another coin, it played the next record in the stack.

Now, bump up to the original answer which was a revolution but not that popular. By the early 30's mechanisms had been perfected and the jukebox was off and running.

Answer 3

Nickelodeon