1958 Wollensak T-1515 stereo tape recorder

This is a common reel to reel tape recorder which is all vacuum tube. Built indestructible, like all 50s electronics. Play/record and stop buttons are provided, and fast forward and rewind are activated by the left/right switch. It can play at 7/1 IPS or 3/4 IPS.

This unit came out of a dumpster, the same dumpster that my Dictaphone 241 machine came out of! It was dirty, and would not play rewind or fast forward. The tape counter wasn't working and the speed switch wouldn't switch to 7/1 IPS.

I started by fixing all the mechanical problems. The unit not fast forwarding, rewinding, or playing were lubrication issues, as well as the counter not working. No belts/tires needed to be replaced; rubber belts from the 50s hold up a lot better than rubber belts from the 60s and 70s. After that, it played pre-recorded tapes fine, but the recordings it made sounded awful and distorted. I replaced two of the tubes, and that fixed it. after that I cleaned it which got it looking much better, and here's the end result. The machine is now looking great, fully functional, playing and recording nicely. Pretty good for it almost ending up in the landfill!