Today I tested all MPU’s and both mechanisms. I was extremely pleased to see the Seeburg and Gen2 MPU’s all working properly. I discovered an odd problem with the SMC1 mechanism. Whenever an A and B side of the same record were selected, like 133 and 233, the mechanism would not shift the tonearm cradle to the right to play the B side and the record would play backwards. I could select either side separately and they played fine. I could play an A side followed by a B side of a different record and they of course played fine. This was only happening on the SMC1 mechanism.

I started looking at the switch charts and finally noticed that the SMC1 had only one switch on the horizontal stack, the 3M1. The SMC2 and the SMC2 hideaway mechanisms both had two, the 3M1 and a 3M2. The 3M2, the inside switch, shunts one of the vertical stack switches, IM5 to be precise, for early motor reversal. I’m certain that this SMC1 mech must be an early version without the shunt switch. So, I decided to add it.

I have a box of switches I’ve taken off mechanisms over the years and it was a fairly easy matter to find a pair that would work. It took me a little over an hour to take the switch assembly apart and add the extra 3M2 switch with proper spacing etc. and wire it in. Wiring couldn’t be any simpler. 12V DC one side and the other to the IM5 switch. The replacements I used weren’t quite as long as they needed to be so I bent the piece that actuates it enough to get full contact. I really thought this would take care of the problem but it did not. I will look at the timing between this switch and the IM5 switch whenever I get to the SMC1 jukebox. I would really not like telling a buyer “By the way, don’t select both sides of the same record.” The picture shows the added switch.

Monday morning and I started anew on the lamp holder for the SMC2. Saturday afternoon I visited an old friend, Russell. He is a machinist who builds race motors and races a winged modified at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Been doing it a long time and is good at both. He has a brake used to bend sheet metal. The piece of sheet metal I have needs a right angle bend with about an inch of metal sticking up for mounting.I had already cut it to proper length with a jigsaw. It took literally 10 seconds to bend the piece of sheet metal.

Once bent I got the width measured and cut. The reason I wanted the lamp holder from the DS160 to use is that I knew I could cut a piece off and have a right angle tab for mounting purposes. I did just that and drilled a couple holes in each tab and also for the lamp starter holder. These will be screwed down rather than welded.

Using a lamp for proper spacing and a couple of clamps I rigged the tabs in place, jiggled them here and there, with a few measurements and then drew where to drill my tab mounting holes.

Now that I had the lamp mounting tabs located I removed the brown bakelite holders, sandblasted the metal, cleaned it real well and laid a couple coats of white on it top and bottom.

I gave this a day to dry so I actually finished this up Tuesday. It’s quick work to put the bakelite holders in place and do the wiring. Once the lamp holder is mounted, and it has been checked several times for fit, I’ll get the wire length correct, crimp on the molex connectors and have light like Seeburg intended. It turned out well. I’m pleased.