Well, guests escaping the hot weather at Birch Lodge will now have some COOL music to go with the cool breezes. The 1962 Seeburg console (LPC-1) juke box we played in the Birch Bar before it broke down last year has been repaired. Even better, the 1953 Seeburg Selecto-O-Matic 100G that we vfound stashed in the corner of one of the old lodge rooms has been repaired and restored.
.jpg "1953 Seeburg Selectomatic, Birch Lodge, Trout Lake, MI") |
| Seeburg Select-O-Matic 100G |
We wrestled both boxes onto a trailer and hauled them down to Jenison, MI where John Reed of New Play juke box (
www.newplayjukebox.com) worked his magic and returned both machines to action. The Select-O-Matic when originally produced had clear plastic columns on either side of the speaker that had animation. Bar owners almost immediately began complaining because patrons would break them while "nudging" the machine if their quarter got stuck. The chrome columns on our machine were designed to survive such treatment.
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What brings the Birch Bar past alive in this sense is that the column on our machine below the coin slot had a big old dent in it. New Play would have replaced it but we had John bump it out and leave ripples - more "authentic." Besides, Bill won't feel as badly if the juke box needs some nudging so that he can retrieve one of his quarters(!)
We had some fun rummaging through and loading the Select-O-Matic with old 45rpm records we found stored in the lodge, and the Console box was already loaded. I'd like to write some more, but the Birch Bar is calling me to sit down and listen to "String of Pearls," "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo," "Mac the Knife," and "A Pretty Girl is Like a Memory" . . . Six for a Quarter!!!!
.jpg "Seeburg Jukeboxes, Birch Lodge, Trout Lake, MI")
.jpg "1953 Seeburg Selectomatic, Birch Lodge, Trout Lake, MI")
Outstanding!!! That old jukebox was a pleasant source of nostalgia in later years visits and a pleasant companion as Cliff served drinks, conversation, and chips in paper napkin lined wicker baskets when we honeymooned back in the 70's. Thanks for reviving old memories and providing an additional source for future ones.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding accomplishment! That jukebox has been a source of entertainment during our visits to the Birch Lodge off and on for over 36 years. Our kids and grandkids have tapped toes, played poo, sipped pop and snacks and listened in amazement to the tunes of our life. Anxious to peruse the selections on the "new" box. Hope to listen soon. Thanks for your dedication to this landmark establisnment
ReplyDeleteI hope you have some Patsy Cline on that juke box! Always gotta have me some good ole Patsy songs!
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you have at least one Patsy Cline song on those juke boxes!
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