1956

Wurlitzer „2000 Centennial“.

With the Wurlitzer 2000 “Centennial”, introduced in 1956, Wurlitzer presented its first jukebox offering 200 selections. The model was developed by engineer Michael J. Corbett.

 

To prevent damage to the delicate 45-rpm singles, Wurlitzer introduced a system using so-called “title pages.” These flip-over title holders allowed the user to browse through the song selections without directly touching the records.

The machine was technically sophisticated and required considerable engineering effort. Despite its innovative design, sales remained lower than expected, with only about 7,500 units produced.

Other manufacturers reacted quickly to the new 200-selection concept. For example, Seeburg achieved significantly higher production numbers with its first 200-selection model.

Nevertheless, the Wurlitzer 2000 “Centennial” remains an important milestone in jukebox development, marking the transition toward larger music selections and more complex selection systems.