1959 Rock-Ola Tempo 1468 Vinyl Jukebox

Vintage 1950s Rock-Ola jukebox. The name Rock-Ola is derived from the name of the company's founder, also implying a "rock 'n' roll" play on words.

David C. Rockola was born in Canada and as a young boy worked as a mechanic in a shop that repaired coin-operated devices. By 1926 he had his own company manufacturing coin-operated scales.

In the 1930s Rockola moved into pinball games and many other devices. As the demand for coin-operated phonographs increased the temptation to enter the jukebox arena, Rockola purchased a mechanism from a man named Smythe. Rockola re-engineered this 12-select mechanism and started making jukeboxes in a big way (1935 Rock-Ola). Farny Wurlitzer viewed this a huge threat to his business based on Rockola's success in other machines. Wurlitzer tried to convince David Rockola that there was no room in the industry for another manufacturer. Wurlitzer then filed a $1 million lawsuit claiming patent infringement on the Smythe mechanism. Rockola eventually won the suit but not until he had spent half a million dollars in legal fees. This hurt Rockola but didn't kill him; he continued manufacturing and in 1939 introduced a series of very successful jukeboxes called "Luxury Light-Up".

Rock-Ola entered Hi-Fidelity with the model 1446 and then stereo came in 1959 with the introduction of the Tempo 1 1468, the first true stereo jukebox.

This 1959 Tempo 1 jukebox has 120 45 selections. It is in excellent working condition but is original and un-restored. The jukebox has its original chrome which is in excellent condition. The title drum is well implemented. The lower grill pattern shows a small amount of rust. It does not have a coin mechansism and plays on free play.

The Jukebox is sold as seen. For further images or info or to hear and see this wonderful jukebox, please contact Vintage Seekers.