Seeburg was founded in Chicago 1902 to manufacture pianos and orchestrions, mechanical devices designed to mimic the complex sound of an orchestra and its many types of instruments. In 1927, the firm retooled and began to manufacture jukeboxes. By 1949, with the release of its exceptionally reliable 50 record select mechanism—which allowed the jukebox to play both sides of records, in effect 100 disks—Seeburg began to dominate the jukebox market and would continue to do so until the late 1970s.
The present jukebox, a Select-O-Matic 200, is one of Seeburg’s most celebrated models. The Select-O-Matic 200 can play both sides of 100 records and was commended for not only its reliability but its distinctive design, which was inspired by 1950s automobiles. The jukebox is an iconic piece of mid-century American design.