Wollensak T-1500 (or T-1510) Tape Recorder On/Off Knob

thingiverse

I've had this Wollensak T-1500 tape recorder since 1960, and it's been a faithful workhorse ever since. Many people my age will remember seeing these reel-to-reel tape recorders in their schools, churches, and workplaces - they were ubiquitous. Sometime in the 1970s, however, disaster struck: the knob that controls both power and tone broke off due to excessive torque on its plastic center piece when it activated the combo rheostat and switch. Despite numerous attempts to fix it with epoxy, it remained broken. But things changed when I started using my Ender and learning Fusion 360 - suddenly this project seemed like a breeze. The design process was straightforward, and I was confident that I could create a new knob that would be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. My only regret is that I had been hoping to try out Solutech clear PETG for the new knob, but it appears to be as elusive as unobtanium. No one seems to have this material in stock, which is frustrating because a transparent or semi-transparent knob would have perfectly matched the look of the original volume knob. For those who want to make any adjustments to the design, I've included the Fusion 360 f3d file.