SEEBURG WALLBOXES

SEEBURG WALLBOXES

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(a special thank you to Ron Rich for reviewing this information)

3W1 Wallbox - 100 Selections

The name Seeburg 3W1 comes from the number of wires (3) required to connect the wallbox to the jukebox and the number of selections (1 for 100). Two of the wires were for power (24 Volts A.C. and ground) and the other wire sent the selection (one letter and one number) as a series of pulses that were used to repeatedly energize a relay in the remote control "stepper" (standard equipment in some jukeboxes, optional in others), which in turn energized relays as selections into the jukebox.

These 3W1 wallboxes were produced from 1949 to 1958. Total production is estimated at Two Hundred Twenty One Thousand (221,000). They were used with the following Seeburg models: M100A, M100B, BL, M100C, 100W, HF-100G, HF-100R, 100J, 101, and the L-100. Even though competitors introduced their own versions of the wallbox, all manufacturers eventually offered a stepper compatible with the 3W1.

The 3W1 "WALL-O-MATIC" wallbox was the first 100 selection remote selector ever, 20 selections visible at a time. It was designed for the M-100A introduced in 1948 as a 1949 model. At this time competitors were offering 24 and 40 selections.

The model A phono, was a 78 rpm model only-- it was able to play either 10, or 12 inch 78's intermixed. "Aftermarket suppliers", came up with "kits" that would convert them into 7 inch-45 rpm, players or, 10/12 inch 33-1/3rpm players.
On the "S" models--the credit unit although very similar, was not identical, to anything previously made.

The M-100A was originally a 100 selection (50 records, both sides) 78rpm jukebox and was also available as a 45 and/or 33rpm jukebox.

The letter/number buttons were solid red with the letter/number embossed in the plastic and filled in with white paint. The cover was made of a zinc alloy and was painted tan/beige. The cover could not be chrome plated. The factory setting for pricing was one play for each nickel, two plays for a dime and six for a quarter.

In 1949 the next version of the 3W1 was introduced as a 1950 model along with the model M100B jukebox. The model B (and BL, which indicated the cabinet was "light") was the first ever jukebox dedicated exclusively to the new 45rpm records. This version featured translucent type buttons (white caps outlining red letter/numbers) and backlit with two #55 lamps. The cover was finished with chrome plating. The chrome plated covers were used for the rest of the production except in 1953-1954 when chromium was on the "critical materials list" of the United States government during the Korean conflict.

3W1-D: In 1955, the 3W1-D was introduced to support the multiple pricing model 100J jukebox. The factory setting for pricing was one play for a dime and three plays for a quarter. In order for two nickels to be used in place of a dime the slug rejector had a "flipper" added to the nickel position which flipped every other nickel past the coin switch and not making a credit, thus requiring two nickels to be inserted for a single credit.

Later versions of the 3W1 featured blue titlestrip pages as opposed to silver titlestrip pages and an improved locking mechanism in attaching them to the wallbox. Both of these features were carried over to the 3W100 model.

D-3WA Wallbox - 200 Selections

Introduced at the same time as the 200-selection models V and VL 200, the new 3WA wallbox was needed to handle the increased number of selections (from 100 to 200). At least seven variations of the 200-selection Wallboxes were made.

Coins are deposited in a single entry coin chute and pass through a 5-10-25 cent slug rejector and then through the coin switches into the cash box. A nickel will register one credit, a dime two credits and a quarter six credits. The coin credit units can accumulate up to 24 credits. The pricing on these units was set at the factory and could not be changed without new parts or "jury rigging".

Information panels (coin credit indicators) at each side of the program holder on the pilasters illuminate to indicate when coins were deposited. The lower right indicate "5 CENTS DEPOSITED, ANOTHER COIN REQUIRED in red". The lower left would indicate "MAKE TEN CENT SELECTION ONLY in orange" and the two upper would read "MAKE ANY SELECTION in green". There were variations of these depending on the pricing.

The DPU and DCU credit units (D meant Dual Pricing) were designed to allow for dual pricing. Any of the twenty selections for a given "number" (A1 thru V1, A2 thru V2 etc) could be set to either "single" or "ep" (extended play) pricing. Single pricing removed two credits and EP pricing removed three credits each time a selection was made. The titlestrip pages were designed to display groups by numbers (A1 thru V1, A2 thru V2 etc).

DCU 10 units would charge SINGLE SELECTIONS at 10 cents each and 3 for a Quarter; EP SELECTIONS at 15 cents each and 2 for a Quarter.

DCU15 units would charge SINGLE SELECTIONS at 5 cents each and Six for a Quarter; EP SELECTIONS at 10 cents each and 3 for a Quarter.

V-3WA-N:  The -N used the DCU15 or DPU15 DUAL PRICING UNIT. It was set for nickel play (single = 5¢, EP = 10¢). A premium was given to Quarters. Quarters registered six credits giving the customer six singles or three EP's.

V-3WA-D:  The -D used the DCU10 or DPU10 DUAL PRICING UNIT. It was set for dime play (single = 10¢, EP = 15¢). A premium was given to Quarters. Quarters registered six credits giving the customer three singles or two EP's.

D-3WA and D-3WU:  Both of these used the DPU10 or DCU10 pricing units. The 'U' indicated a universal model, which could be used on 100, 200, or 160-play jukeboxes. These models came with "tie backs" that would lock all unused pages from turning. They also came with spacers that were placed on the keyboard, disabling the buttons.

Changing from a 200 to a 160 selection model required using the tie back on the last two pages, 9 and 0 and inserting the spacer on the keyboard rendering the 9 and 0 buttons inoperative.

Changing from a 200 to a 100 selection model was a little more involved. The 6, 5 and 4 as well as the 9 and 0 pages had to be tied back. The 100 selection models (3W1 and 3WA) used a different type of numbering system. Those pages were set according to the letters as opposed to the numbers (A1, B1, etc).

The titlestrip pages came with embossed with numbers located on the left side of the bottom right side of the left pages. These embossed numbers represented the page number for the selections. The universal model titlestrip pages came embossed with additional letters and numbers located in the title strip position corresponding to the 100 selection location. For example A1 is A1 on both the 3W1 and the 3WA wallboxes. A2 on the 3WA is B1 on the 3W1, etc.

Note the embossed number “1”
on the lower right hand side of the left page

Note the embossed letter/numbers
corresponding to the 3W1 type wallboxes

As an alternative new number stickers (that were also enclosed with these models from the factory) could be installed replacing the number stickers already on the pages.

3WA-200-HD and 3WU-200-HD

Both of these models used the dual pricing units with the addition of a half dollar coin acceptor. In addition to a premium being paid when a Quarter is deposited, it also pays a premium when a Half Dollar is deposited. When a Half Dollar is deposited it passes through a coin switch and it also "trips" the Quarter coin switch. When a selection is made the accumulator ADDS CREDITS for a total of 14 credits. Because the accumulator can only register 24 credits, a selection must be made after depositing a Half Dollar or the additional credits will be lost.

The upper section of the cover was different, as was the coin entry.

S-3WA Wallbox - 200 Selections

S-3WA and S-3WU: This wallbox was single pricing only (the 'S' stands for Single). The customer was required to make selections after depositing each coin as there was no accumulator. The pricing setup could be changed on this mode, without using new parts. The credit unit is identical to the 3W1 credit unit. There were six positions occupied by up to three solenoids. The location of the solenoid determined the pricing.

All models of the 200 selection 3WA wallboxes could be used with any 200, 160, or 100 selection wallboxes.

3WA-160 Wallbox - 160 Selections

S-3WA-160 and D-3WA-160: (S) Single Pricing (D) Dual Pricing
These wallboxes are identical to the 200 selection wallboxes with the exception of the 9 and 0 selections. The bottom row of numbers was centered and there were no 9 or 0 selections. The 160 wallbox was first produced in 1958 for the Seeburg model 161 jukebox.

AP3W160 Wallbox - 160 Selections

AP3W160 Wallboxes were specifically designed for the AQ160, AY160 and DS160 model jukeboxes. They required more than a three wire hookup to access all features on the jukebox.