About the Company
Wollensak was an American audio‑visual and electronics brand best known for its consumer reel‑to‑reel tape recorders built in the United States from the mid‑1950s through the early 1970s. The company’s origins trace back to 1899 in St. Paul, Minnesota, where it was founded by Andrew Wollensak to manufacture photographic shutters and optics. Over time the business expanded into other areas of audio and visual technology, including magnetic recording equipment. During the 1950s and 1960s Wollensak reel‑to‑reel models became widely used by home users, schools and offices for everyday recording and playback.
Wollensak entered the reel‑to‑reel recorder market around 1956, initially using tube‑based electronics in its designs. Early models such as the T‑1500 series were adaptations of mechanisms originally developed under license from the Revere Camera Company, with Wollensak crafting its own cabinets, controls and amplifiers. These units were half‑track mono decks with two speeds (typically 3 3/4 and 7 1/2 inches per second) and were noted for robust mechanical build quality and integrated amplification suitable for home and institutional use. The T‑1500 remained in production for several years with variations that included stereo capabilities and solid‑state updates.
By the early 1960s Wollensak had introduced more advanced stereo capable models, such as the T‑1580, which offered stereo recording/playback and improved transport mechanisms. These designs reflected broader industry trends toward higher‑fidelity consumer equipment. Wollensak also experimented with different form factors and feature sets, including portable units and versions with auto‑level features. Grew into the 1960s, the brand’s tape decks maintained a focus on consumer and educational markets, offering versatility for music playback, dictation, lectures and multimedia use in classrooms and offices.
In **1960 Wollensak and the related recorder business were acquired by the 3M Company, becoming part of 3M’s Mincom Division. This affiliation with 3M tied Wollensak’s tape recorder production to one of the largest manufacturers of magnetic tape and related media, and the brand continued to evolve. In the mid‑1960s the company introduced the 5000 series, a line of solid‑state transistorized decks that offered multiple speeds, digital tape counters, VU meters and compact styling geared toward the competitive home audio market of the era. Around 1969, new models in the 6000 series featured improved designs with dual motors and more powerful amplifiers, and these later units were produced into the early 1970s.
Wollensak’s reel‑to‑reel production gradually wound down as cassette tapes and other formats became dominant in the consumer audio world and as Japanese manufacturers gained market share in tape transport electronics. The company itself ceased operation in 1972, with its tape recorder business ending around the same time. Wollensak recorders remain collectible examples of mid‑20th century American consumer tape technology, prized for their rugged construction and historical significance in home and educational audio.
In summary:
Brand: Wollensak
Country of manufacture: United States
Active reel‑to‑reel production: approximately 1956–1972
Early technology: Tube‑based electronics on units like the T‑1500 series
Later technology: Solid‑state transistor decks in the 5000 and 6000 series
Market focus: Consumer, home, educational and institutional reel‑to‑reel use
Corporate evolution: Independent then part of 3M’s Mincom Division
Legacy: Durable and reliable mid‑20th century American reel‑to‑reel decks widely used outside of studios.