![]() I did not intend to try to reuse the microphone, and the microphone wires were in the way taking up a lot of space (although subsequently, using the tape recorder as a giant Bluetooth headset has come up in conversation - maybe I will someday regret removing the microphone wires). I took it apart this far to remove the thick grey wires for the microphone. This is the front half of the case, with the middle section of the case removed - this was the most I would ever disassemble the tape recorder. I decided to replace the PCB and potentiometer, as that gave me the flexibility to use a rotary encoder instead of a potentiometer, and removing the PCB introduced more space for my components around where the PCB used to be. To get a value from the volume knob, I would either have to keep the existing potentiometer in place and measure it digitally, or replace it with another sensor that fit the volume knob and would sit at the correct location in the case. It was attached directly to a potentiometer on the PCB. The interesting part here was the volume knob, which I wanted to remain functional. I did not intend to reuse any of its electronics. There was a single PCB in a slot near the right side of the case. I did not want to simply remove these, because I wanted to try to maintain the original feel of the buttons, and I thought keeping the springs intact would be the easiest way to do so. There are a fair number of mechanical springs, plastic levers, etc. ![]() ![]() This is a closer view of most of the mechanical and electronic components, with the belt mechanism (visible in the previous image) already removed. I stuck with the original speaker at first, which seemed to work, but eventually I replaced it with an 8Ω speaker of the same size. I was hoping to re-use the speaker as-is, but measured it to have an impedance of 32Ω, which I thought might be a little high for the amplifier components designed for 8Ω speakers that I was planning on using (I expected a too-high impedance might result in low volume, but not damage). There’s a 3" speaker mounted to the back of the case. The #826 tape recorder is quite easy to open up - just six screws on the back, and then the entire back slides right off. Instead, I made some deeper changes - I converted it into a Bluetooth speaker.Ĭlick the image below to play a YouTube demo video. The problem was probably just a broken or missing belt for the tape deck, which I could have replaced. When I found it again in 2015, it didn’t work anymore. Manufactured Janu(as stamped in the battery compartment). This is my #826 Fisher-Price tape recorder.
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