Wooden Feet For TEAC X-Series, A-7300 Reel to Reel Tape Decks

Lifetime Guaranty

For several years I've been making wooden (Jatoba) feet for a select set of Teac reel to reel tape decks, generally models from the 2300 series through the 3340 and 3440 products.  These feet have been to a great extent for my own use on the R/R decks I restore.  I've now made them available for purchase.

I'm now making wooden (Jatoba) feet to fit the TEAC X-Series tape decks.  I have X-1000R's, X-10R's, and one X-7 on hand so I can make certain that I have a good fit on these models.  I've sold them for installation on the X-2000R with no issues.  I'll say that I'd expect these to fit any X- Series, and I'd appreciate input from anyone who knows of some oddball X-Series model that uses different original feet than the other X's.  And of course I'll refund any purchase price paid if they don't fit your deck. 

These feet are also suitable for the Teac A-7300 with a slight modification to where the mounting holes are located.  If you are ordering for the model A-7300 you need to say so.  If you don't point that out I'll ship feet for the X-series, you'll have to pay shipping three times to get what you want (out, return, and out again), and I wind up with an unhappy customer.  Nobody wins if you don't tell me what you want!   

The strength of these feet is an order of magnitude above the strength of the original feet provided by Teac.  The originals are so regularly broken that it is routine when looking at Teac decks for sale to find decks with no feet.  The feet didn't fall off.  One got broken and the owner removed the other to level the deck... instead of replacing the broken one. 

The stated price is for a complete set of feet.  They are available in satin black or sprayed polyurethane finish (both shown in the photos) or unfinished if the buyer would like to do a different finish.  

These wooden feet are so strong that I'm including a ZIPPO lighter guarantee, to the original purchaser, with the purchase.  -->>>>>>>>>>

IF THESE FEET EVER BREAK I"LL REPLACE THEM AT NO COST!

I can provide these either sprayed with three coats of polyurethane, painted satin black or unfinished.  THE BUYER NEEDS TO SPECIFY THE DESIRED FINISH!!!  If no selection is made then I'll ship these items sprayed with polyurethane.  Mounting hardware is included and will vary depending on whether there is a wooden case in play or not.  THE BUYER NEEDS TO SPECIFY WHETHER OR NOT THE TAPE DECK HAS A WOODEN CASE!!!  If no selection is made then I'll ship mounting hardware for a deck with a wooden case.  

SO PLEASE SPECIFY THE FINISH YOU PREFER AND WHETHER OR NOT YOUR DECK IS INSIDE THE FAUX WOODEN CASE!

Stated shipping is for the lower 48 states.  Other please ask for quote.

Please check my feedback ands thanks for your interest.

The above information may be all many shoppers will need to make a buying decision.  I've put together more information that many won't care to read.  For the detail oriented, see below.

MORE DETAILS

These feet are not intended to duplicate the originals.  These are longer, wider, and provide a lot more surface area to support the tape deck than the originals do.  And they're a lot simpler than the originals. They're also INCREDIBLY more difficult to break than the originals!  The same feet fit X-Series models with or without the wooden case.  And yes, I know that Teac didn't do it that way.    

In the early '70's the feet underneath the overbuilt 45-50 pound Teac tape decks of the day were, in my opinion, spindly and woefully under engineered for the task.  Early versions provided in the range of less than 1 square inch of actual bottom surface touching the shelf the deck is placed on.  Picture a Hummer going down the road sporting bicycle wheels and tires.  Or a 300 pound linebacker in full game pads standing on his toes wearing ballet shoes.  In comparison, the feet I'm offering here provide about 20 square inches of bottom surface.

Through the '70's and into the '90's the feet Teac used were modified, generally getting longer and wider, and in theory I suppose, more durable.  But along the way, through several versions of plastic feet for various generations of their tape decks, Teac missed one opportunity after another to make these rather mundane plastic parts measure up to the robust engineering standard these magnificent machines established.

They were molded with hollow bottoms that weakened them, and protrusions sticking down that significantly (and unnecessarily) reduced the area that actually touched the shelf the deck rested on.  To accommodate the various mounting screw patterns used on assorted decks, some versions used slots for the mounting screws, rather than round holes.  This is a direct result of Teac not standardizing their mounting hole patterns, and these slots serve to further weaken the feet.  These slots made them easy to break by simply scooting the deck around on the shelf, or bumping one of them into something while being carried.

These fine vintage Teac tape decks have set a very high standard in terms of engineering precision and durability.  Here we are, some 40 years after many of these deck were manufactured, still buying and selling them as useable recording devices, and not simply as collectors items.  But we're also in the market for replacement feet because the under engineered originals got broken! 

I love these vintage Teac R/R tape decks.  But the original feet just don't measure up.  Just one man's opinion.

JATOBA WOOD

Jatoba wood is regularly used in Brazil for furniture and hardwood floors.  It is a very heavy wood and is so dense that in order to put a nail through it one would normally drill a hole first rather than try to drive a nail with a hammer!   The course grain is very similar to Teak, it is often mistaken for Teak, and often used where the look of Teak is desired but the oily nature of Teak is not necessarily required. 

Look at the photos and be aware that you are looking at the natural color of this wood…no stain here, just 4 coats of low gloss polyurethane.