Definitely a risqué title, if a bit misleading. Sega, best known for their early success in the game console wars and their game productions, is now segueing into the almost – neglected “adult” toy market – “toys” in the most common meaning of the word that are meant to be sold to adults and not kids.

If that description is still not clear enough, then it would be simpler just to say that these toys are meant to be used while fully clothed, even in the office (during break) or with your in-laws watching (if you don’t mind them thinking you’re some overgrown kid). One of the toys to come out of Sega’s design labs is this cute little music player that in all ways is inferior to a regular old MP3 player from the Fruit brand or from any of the big Taiwanese manufacturers except in fun, uniqueness and as a talking point.

                                             The model for Sega's mini-fied version.

The Sega Juke Box 19xx is a 1/10 scale model of an actual jukebox, the German made Wurlitzer made in the year 1955. It is essentially an MP3 player , only much bigger and slower – slower due to the fact that the song only plays once a dummy vinyl record is put onto the dummy turntable and the pickup is already set. In other words, this player simulates a real jukebox down to the minute actions of the internal mechanisms in a circa 1950’s jukebox.

                                             The "scale model" in the best sense of the words.

This jukebox works when you put in a 100 yen coin, after which the device goes through the motions of scratching some vinyl for you. Some one hundred golden oldies can be selected right out of the box, but an SD slot plus an iPod dock stands ready to accept your own songs for nostalgic playing. What happens to the coins? These are stored in the manner of a piggy bank; i.e. the coins aren’t collected by a Sega representative at the end of the month – you get to keep your loose change! How great is that?

                                             Miniaturization at its best.

Great attention to detail, a set of flashing LEDs that light up along with the beat, and the ability to play MP3 music and the aforementioned “jukebox actions” all combine to make this an entertaining buy for those adults who have enough spare change both to buy it ( for $270+ !) and to feed it when you want to play something. Put it on your mini-bar tabletop and start serving your guests some mini liquors to set the mood.