For each manufacturer, there is some detailed history which has obviously been subject to much research. Alongside each jukebox photo is the year it was made, number of selections, 45 or 78 rpm and, where available, the approximate number that were made.

The book also reproduces serial number data for the big four American makers which was supplied by Tom DeCillis.

The BAL-AMi content is excellent with a history of the company (credited to Tony Holmes) along with photos and illustrations of all models.

This edition is hard to find now although some dealers bring spare copies along to the two main jukebox shows in the UK each year. One of the authors, Ian Brown, did tell me a few years ago that a new colour edition was on its way - what happened Ian ?!

The author has gone to great lengths to research not only the history of the jukes themselves, but everything that went on around the periphery, such as the influence of 'the mob'.

The book contains as much text as pictures, the latter being in both black and white, and colour.

BAL-AMi content is limited to a few paragraphs in the latter part of the book.

Added to this, the whole book is printed on high quality glossy paper.

The content is concentrated on the silver age, i.e. the fifties, and covers a number of German manufacturers such as Bergmann and NSM as well as the big four.

No BAL-AMi content, but there is a page covering the IMA-AMi company of Denmark, a sort of BAL-AMi Danish equivalent.

Textual content is contained within the first eight pages, followed by around 80 full colour glossy pages of superb photographs. Each photo is studio quality showing a juke or wall box or other accessory, against an effective black background.

If your preference is for machines of this age from the USA, then this might be the book for you.

The bulk of the content is devoted to the big four, AMi, Wurlitzer, Rock-Ola, and Seeburg although a Filben Maestro takes pride of place on the cover. The usual reproductions of advertising material are complimented by some superb full page colour photographs by Don Wood.

There are some words about BAL-AMi's together with some rare advertisement reproductions.

There are tips on buying a juke together with a history (up to 1996) of price movements in the market. For example, an AMi model I would have cost you around 300 US dollars in 1981. In 1996, you could have sold that juke for 5,500 dollars !

There are many photographs throughout the book, both colour and black and white, mostly from advertising archives. At the back of the book, there is a list of what is claimed are all the jukeboxes ever made. There are, however, some small errors including the mis-spelling of the BAL-AMi manufacturer (stated as Balfort) and wrong dates for the BAL-AMi machines. Let's just accept them as errors in translation!

Check out the Jukebox Heaven web site.

Whilst there is no specific BAL-AMi content, there is plenty of USA AMi coverage. There's an impressive ad for an I200M in a regal setting with some apparently affluent people lounging around being served by a waitress. Closer inspection reveals that the title strips are missing and one therefore wonders how they would have chosen their favourite tunes!

Produced in a black and white glossy finish, most of the book contains reproductions of AMi advertising material from 1931 through to 1988. The majority of the advertising is pitched at the operators of the time and makes interesting reading.

Perhaps the only downside to this book is the "loose-leaf" binding which gives a low quality feel to an otherwise superb collection of AMi marketing material.