Inside the Collection: Meet Berry Bell
Get ready to groove! Berry takes us for a spin with his massive jukebox and record collection!
Oct. 6, 2024
When Berry Bell started his career as a disc jockey, he never imagined that his love of music would lead him to collect dozens of jukeboxes.
Now, he owns 32 of the original, highest-quality machines ever made. He will show Lisa everything from a 1956 Wurlitzer 2000, considered the holy grail of jukeboxes, to the first 200-play jukebox ever made, along with a vast number of 45s dating back decades.
His collection serves as his own little time machine, allowing him to experience nostalgia every day. He has jukeboxes from the '50s, '60s, and other decades. Once he bought his first jukebox, he couldn't stop.
For him, it’s all about the aesthetic, how the music sounds, and the optics of each jukebox.
Get ready to groove, because this collection will make your head spin!
1. Wurlitzer 2000
This Wurlitzer 2000 is a holy grail item for any jukebox collector—it's the one everyone wants, including Berry!
It was Wurlitzer's first endeavor in a 200-choice jukebox.
With the press of a button, you can view it and all its features. Berry found this rare jukebox in Arkansas about 29 years ago, and he hasn't let it go since.
This machine saw a rapid increase in value in the '80s, and today it's worth even more. Our expert estimates its value at $18,000 due to its rarity and being one of the first of its kind for the brand.
2. Wurlitzer Speaker & Jukebox Combo
This Wurlitzer speaker was sold separately from the jukebox, but they were released around the same time—and they go so well together.
These are very rare: 60,000 jukeboxes were made, but only 10,000 of these speakers were released.
Our collector paid quite a bit for it, but he's gotten his value back, as today it would be worth even more.
The speaker alone would be in the $8,000 range. It's all about the looks with this item!
3. Seeburg V200
This Seeburg V200 was a cutting-edge machine for its time. It was the very first 200-selection jukebox ever manufactured by any brand.
It was a trendsetter when it came to offering more choices.
This was bought 29 years ago—early in Berry's collection process—by word of mouth. He paid around $2,900 at that time. You can still find these today, but that doesn't diminish the value of this jukebox.
Our expert estimates its value at $10,000. It's on everyone's jukebox wishlist!
4. Berry's Record Collection
Besides having over 30 jukeboxes, our collector is also an expert in records!
He was a disc jockey before becoming a collector and managed to acquire over 15,000 to 17,000 45s. Just like the jukeboxes, the record collection continues to grow. He still buys them today through online auctions and at garage sales.
He has them all alphabetized so he can quickly find what he needs, and he's always looking to fill gaps in his collection.
He has Beatles records and many promotional and radio station copies, which are highly sought after, as well as records by the Beach Boys, Columbia Records, and more.
The most valuable records he owns are his promo copies, which can sell for $30,000 each because they are no longer produced.
Altogether, the collection would be worth around $200,000—sweet music to his ears!
5. Rock-Ola Jukebox
This Rock-Ola jukebox looks like the back of a car! You can see the influence of Detroit in this design, with the windshield and fins referencing Motor City.
It was Rock-Ola's first attempt at a jukebox. They wanted to get on the stereo bandwagon, but the collector appreciates the automotive look and feel.
Produced in 1959, it screams the '50s—something even the Fonz would have loved.
He had one 20 years ago, but he experienced seller's remorse. He finally got it again and isn't looking to sell anytime soon.
Our expert estimated this jukebox at $9,000.
6. AMI Continental Jukebox
This AMI Continental Jukebox is very unique and has a space-age look. There is nothing in his collection that resembles it.
Imagine seeing this in a bar in 1962! This model was used in Ghost with Patrick Swayze. After that movie, its value saw a significant bump.
Everyone wanted to dance to the jukebox like they did in the film.
It was made by a company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, known for its sound engineering. He paid a pretty penny for this, but, as with his other items, its value has since increased.
Today, it would be worth around $18,000!
7. The total value of Berry's collection:
13 Comments
First of all, dollar value is based on 1.) condition 2.) scarcity 3.) desirability 4.) current trends. I have a number of doo-wop 45s that used to fetch at least $10 each [even for the 'hit' songs], but today you can't give them away.
Million-selling records are worth less than obscure records that had a limited number of discs manufactured and never really sold. Beatles collectors have driven up prices on certain titles because of supply and demand, but there's still some bargains to be had.
Records that are scratched, cracked and warped generally have no commercial value *unless* the record is so exceedingly rare that some lunatic collector *must* have an "original label, first pressing" at any price...
A perfect example is Stormy Weather by the Five Sharps on Jubilee. Only two 78's are known to exist - one cracked and the other with some damage as well. The price was driven up to $10,000 some years back... and the song [if you must know] is a *horrible* rendition of the tune...
Vee-Jay 8 - a special promo copy release of Anna by The Beatles was pressed in a very small quantity to test the waters for a possible single release. Only a couple of copies are still know to exist. That was driven up by Beatles collectors to $30,000.
Then you have the hard-core enthusiasts who *must* have a first pressing of everything they collect - but here's a catch... If a record hits and multiple pressing plants were used for rush-release, you often get variations that look like second or third pressings, but they might have been made within days of each other... "Introducing The Beatles" on Vee-Jay is a perfect example of this...
To sum it up... 95% of your 45's are common and worth very little. Less than 5% are rare, in perfect condition *and* desired by collectors... and then this: Even if a 45 books for (let's say) $20... you're going to get $10.00 or LESS from a dealer, as they need their own markup to turn a profit... It's all about supply and demand...
He might have some real collectable gems mixed in with a lot of common titles...
Another way to tell is label graphics. If a label updates it's logo or look after a record comes out, then it's a later pressing.
For example: Step by Step by The Crests was on Coed Records. The original label was solid red with black ink. Around 1961-62 Coed updated it's label to have gloss black paper with silver ink and a multi-colored logo.
LIberty Records started out with a turquoise label with silver ink, but also changed to a glossy black label with silver ink and a multicolored logo.
Other variations (based on which pressing plant and printers used) are typefaces for the label information.
One could go crazy trying to decipher all of these variations if they're not a seasoned collector. For me, the *sound* is the thing... and I'm just as happy having hundreds of track on my Time-Life CDs than box after box of vinyl...
