Fully functional wall-mounted jukebox with vintage design and modern features
This project is a modern digital jukebox inspired by classic 1980s pub wall mounted machines, built entirely under domestic workshop constraints. The goal was not to recreate a museum accurate mechanical jukebox, but to capture the look, interaction, and presence of a real jukebox using contemporary hardware and software that could be fabricated in a small flat.
The design centres around a large screen, physical speakers, tactile keypad input, and reactive lighting to recreate the familiar ritual of browsing, selecting, and queueing music. Rather than restoring vintage hardware or dealing with fragile mechanical systems, the build uses a Raspberry Pi running open source jukebox software, paired with a curated local music library. From the user’s point of view, it behaves like a traditional jukebox. Power it on, make selections, queue tracks, or let it play at random.
All structural components were designed in CAD and fabricated using 3D printed PETG parts, assembled with metal dowels and mechanical fixings for strength and alignment. This approach was dictated by space limitations, with no access to a full woodworking or metal workshop. The result is a large, wall mounted unit that feels substantial, serviceable, and purpose built.
The finished jukebox is not a novelty media player. It is a functional, permanent machine that blends nostalgia with practical modern fabrication, proving that large scale interactive builds are possible even within tight domestic constraints.