Jukeboxes have been around for over 100 years. In fact the original jukeboxes were nothing more than a phonograph that was coin-operated. These became popular in the 1890s and were commonly referred to as nickel-in-the-slot machines.

Classic and antique jukeboxes are greatly valued by collectors, while newer and more modern versions are in constant demand from owners of arcades, restaurants, and bars. Collectible jukeboxes vary greatly in price, based on age, manufacturer, and supply. If you have questions as to the value of a particular jukebox, there are a number of jukebox publications, which offer all types of information on these unique machines.

One of the greatest features of modern-day jukeboxes is that you can select to hear virtually any song you want; there are even jukeboxes that connect to the Internet, offering literally endless MP3 selections. However, this was not always the case. Wurlitzer and Rockola jukeboxes were among the first manufacturers of jukeboxes to offer customers the possibility of selecting an available song from between 10 and 16 records. That was in the 1930s, which was also around the time that the name 'jukeboxes' was first coined; its origins are disputed, but it seems to have come from a slang term used by African-American field workers in the South.

Perhaps the greatest period in the development of classic jukeboxes began in the 1950s, when they were able to hold 50 records and play both sides of them. The records used were the 45 rpm 'singles,' which gave rock and pop music most of its revenue. Nowadays, with the advent of MP3, home and portable jukeboxes, the conditions and possibilities have changed forever.