How Does a Wurlitzer Jukebox Work?
About Wurlitzer Jukeboxes
Wurlitzer jukeboxes are automated machines outfitted with a selection of records, CDs, or songs stored in digital format. They are equipped with buttons for each song or track; when a patron puts in coins to pay for a song and then pushes a button, the jukebox plays that selection.
Record Jukeboxes
In record Wurlitzer jukeboxes, buttons are attached to casings that hold records. When a coin is inserted, a mechanism is unlocked, allowing for the selection of a record. The push of the button selecting a record triggers a belt-driven carousel on which the records rest. The selected record is brought to the side of the jukebox, where a gripper arm closes pads around the side of the record and lowers it to a belt-driven turntable to play. The needle drops automatically when the record has been placed on the turntable. When the record is finished playing, the needle lifts and the gripper arm picks up the record and puts it back in its slot on the carousel.
CD jukeboxes
Wurlitzer's CD jukeboxes work much like CD changers sold for home use, but on a larger scale--with up to 1,000 CD slots in a storage carriage--and with each CD containing only one song track. When the button is pushed to choose a song, the software inside the player causes the corresponding disc to be pushed forward from its storage slot into the round disc holder. The CD player's laser switches on and reads the disc automatically, playing it. When the CD is finished playing, the CD is pushed back into its slot on the carriage.
Digital and iPod Jukeboxes
Digital and iPod Wurlitzers work like MP3 players on personal computers, usually running a very basic operating system designed for music playback. For digital jukeboxes, new songs are digitally downloaded on a regular basis and are selected through a touch screen. Users insert a coin or token and the touch screen becomes activated. The user then can scroll through a listing of available songs and select the desired track by touching its listing on the screen. This is similar to selecting a song to play with a mouse click, and the software begins playing the song.
For iPod jukeboxes, a iPod is connected to the stereo components of the jukebox and the user manipulates the iPod as they normally would to select a song. Using the iPod's scroll wheel, the user can located a song and push the center button to start it playing. Like digital jukeboxes, iPod jukeboxes can add song selections at any time by downloading new songs to the iPod from various song vendors such as iTunes or eMusic.
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