5. Posted 24-07-18

During my research for the Ditchburn Project i have come up against many un-answered questions, some have stemmed from tidbits of information people have given me, sometimes based on distant memories, some are just dead ends with no further information to be currently found, as a writer for a History project I have be careful that I don’t re-write history by publishing inaccurate information or misleading information, so below i have a list of questions that still need answers, but more importantly i need proof to verify these answers, maybe a newspaper cutting or photo etc or at least verification from multiple people that the answer is factual, as time goes on, the list will grow, and i will publish the answers here with the verifications. If anyone can help with any of the questions it would be very much appreciated or if anyone has a question they would like to add to the list please email me … Karl Dawson

1, Where was the original Ditchburn factory in Blackpool 1947-1949 ? Answer: Tony Holmes has sent a document showing the address for Ditchburn Equipment during this time, which was at the Hawtin’s Factory on Preston New Road Blackpool , so it seems that Ditchburn utilized the Hawtin’s Factory until the they were ready to move to Dock Road in Lytham. and in April 2019 we found an entry in the Preston Area1948 telephone book that confirmed this, not only did they share the same address but also the same telephone number.

2, Where were the original Mk1s shipped to, was it UK or Europe, both Answer: we understand that they went to Germany but many were shipped back by Ditchburn and converted to MK2 machines because the MK1s looked outdated.

3, What assets did Norman Ditchburn buy from Jack Hylton / Hawtin’s ? Answer: Ditchburn had no connection with Jack Hylton, Hawtin’s had parted company from Jack Hylton and removed his name from the Jukeboxes in early 1947 before Ditchburn bought the rights to manufacture the MK2 Jukebox from Hawtin’s and started the business in the Hawtin’s factory

4, How many original MK1s were bought back from the US air force and turned into MK2 boxes ? Answer: it seems that it was most of them as there is only 1 surviving MK1 machine that currently resides in the Terra Technica Jukebox Museum in the Czech Republic.

5, How many MK2 boxes were turned into MK2R ?

6, How much of the MK2R 30 play mechanism is from the MK2 16 if any ? Answer: Very Little, the Chassis plate and the Motor, the turntable lift, the tone arm support and the amplifier and speaker

7, Did Norman Ditchburn have any surviving family? Answer: Yes Two Daughters

8, How many MK1s MK2s were produced?

9, Were any MK2R manufactured from scratch or were they all conversions? Answer: they were all conversions

10 Who actually designed the original MK1? It looks very similar to the Wurlitzer Victory? But of course, it’s about half the size (Question from Tony Holmes)

11. Where and when was Geoffrey Norman Ditchburn born Answer: He was born in Waterloo Lancashire

12. What was the Hide-away mentioned in newspaper cuttings around 1946 and in the Handbook, was it the fridge with no playing mechanism viewing window, did it have a coin slot ? did it only work with the wall box ?

13. As there is an advert for the wall box, and it says its suitable for MK1 / 2 and MK2R machines, How did this work as there is no known machines that have automatic selection. they all require a button to be pushed or manually selected .. how did the wall box work with these machines and was there also an add on of selection coils to select the buttons remotely ?