The Old G has never had a diffuser glass-the piece that goes between the upper lamp and titlestrips and the mechanism. It tidys up the view by obscuring the electrical selector assembly and the rear of the titlestrip holders. I had meant to order one from Victory Glass more than once and had forgotten. I call it bathroom glass since it has that frosted look like all backyard bathroom windows I’ve ever seen. Well, with the New G having one for proper sizing I thought this was an opportunity to get one cut now that I have a go-to glass company. I took the glass to Country Glass and explained what I would like. They call it satin finish. They also called it $60 to have one cut. Too much. I moped on out of there with glass in hand feeling certain I could order one from Victory Glass for much less. I was about half way home when it hit me. I have a sandblaster!!! I could get a clear piece of glass cut and then use the sandblaster to frost it. And that is just what I did. The clear piece of 1/8″ glass cost a cool $20. Took me about 40 minutes to get it “frosted” evenly. I mounted it and am very pleased with myself and the results.

I spent the rest of the morning fully assembling the New G mechanism while listening to records on it. No hum. Side covers, rear cover, and the newly painted pop meter hood. It was a pretty close match to the older Baby Blue but definitely a shade or two “off”. It still looked tremendously better than the red hood. The rear mirrors were installed. Then the stripper plate and mechanism cover. Then both rear doors. Then some polishing and cleaning. Now I have a finished working G.

After lunch I went out to the garage and started re-assembling the SMC2 mech. I’ll take the mech off the base to get to the wheels underneath for inspection and lubrication first. I’ll work my way around the mechanism oiling and working by hand. Anything sticky or jammed or broken gets taken care of. Spent a couple hours doing this. Took the clutch apart but stopped there. Getting too hot.

This morning Matt H and his wife, a nice couple from Mansfield, came by to look at the SMC1. He is very keen to get a jukebox and I think this one will do them well. I enjoy showing a jukebox, explaining what all I did to it and try to get the point across that I take a lot of time and pride in my work to give them a jukebox that will be trouble-free and perform well. It didn’t take them long to decide they wanted it. I have a ton of records and sat them in the living room to pick out 80 records for their new jukebox. They had a good time picking them out. While they were doing that I scanned an Installation and Operation manual into the computer and then burned it to disc for them to be able to refer to.

Records picked, we loaded the jukebox into the back of their truck. I tucked the line cord into the cabinet and then locked the mechanism down. The SMC mech has tabs on either side with a hole that, when aligned with a threaded hole on the base, let me screw it down and keep it from sliding. I have moved 99% of the jukes I’ve ever gotten or sold or delivered on their backs. Certain precautions have to be taken but contrary to the myths this is an easy way to move a jukebox with little chance of trouble. Matt cinched it down well with straps and off they went.