The Best of Seeburg 1000 Background Music - Non-Videoke Version
3The seeburg 1000 background music system was introduced in 1959 in which to provide background music or "elevator music" as we know it today for shoppers in stores, or factory workers etc. These units played a special record designed by seeburg 2" diameter center hole 16-2/3 RPM disk. The machine was designed to provide continuous play of up to 25 disks, 20 songs per side, hence the name "1000". At the end of the last record, the changer would lift the stack upto the top of the changer spindle for another round of playing. This would continue indefinitly until the machine would be swiched off manually. This video shows the mechanical operation. Notice that there are two needles on both sides of the tone arm. The machine plays either side of the record without manually turning it over. Records were issed by seeburg thoughout the year so the same songs would not be heard over and over. When a new set of records were issued, the previous set was to be returned to seeburg due to copyright laws. The songs are always instrumental arrangements, often by orchestras never heard of before. Unfortunately, there is no reference as to the name and orchestra of the individual songs. Some songs heard are instrumental arrangements of popular tunes with lyrics from that time the record was introduced. Records were dated as to when they were to be put in service. The record in this demo is dated for use on 12-26-64 and is an unknown "1950's" sounding instrumental. Due to an apparent eccentric idler wheels, these units produce alot of wow and flutter, which seems to be common for these at this age. The three units Ive seen all had the same operational characteristics. These units were 100% solid state when introduced. You might see the PA microphone inside the storage compartment in this video. Obviously they played over speaker systems throughout the building and the unit itself has its own built in monitor speaker.
Copyright 2000 by Vicor Music Corporation