Knobs are an important styling statement for audio components, and in many cases manufacturers used the same knobs on their whole line for a few years before the inevitable refresh – usually with hopes to cut cost. Fisher was no exception.
Fisher used many different knobs on their products between the 1950’s and 1970’s. Some are obviously different, while others are so similar that it’s only on second or third inspection of two side-by-side that you realize they’re different.
Knobs from German company OKL began to appear in Fisher component production in the late 1950’s, and lasted well into the 70’s. These were all very nicely made knobs with brass inserts of different sorts, pointers of varying shape, and metal inserts to provide tension against the flat part of the D shaft they mounted to. These knobs are exquisitely finished compared to some the knobs used on other brands.
Starting in about 1969 Fisher began to release multiple power level versions of Stereo Receivers in several product lines, that were short lived and knobs were refreshed overall and along product lines almost yearly.
Early Knobs
These knobs are original to my 90T mono preamp tuner, and 101-R tuner. They typically have a pot metal insert that the potentiometer shaft mounts into.
From looking at factory literature, these also fit:
These knobs are original to my 400-C. They are also on my Series 40 tuner, but I am not sure they are original to it.
From looking at factory literature, these also fit:
My X-202, and TA-600 have this style knob as original. These are the first step in a few design steps that got Fisher to the familiar 500-C knobs.
From looking at factory literature, these also fit:
My 500-S, TA-800, 202-R and several others use this style of knob. These are the second step towards the 500-C type knobs. They are the same size, but still lack the knob bright covering the whole end of the knob.
From looking at factory literature, these also fit:
My 500-B, X-202-B, early 400 and many others use this style of knob. These represent the third step toward the common 500-C knob. They are the same size, and use a knob bright that covers the end of the knob, but the pointer is worked into the bright only.
From looking at factory literature, these also fit:
My late 400, 500-C, 800-C, KX-200, KX-100 and many others use this knob. They are distinguished from those above by having pointer ridges cast into the knob in addition to the pointer line in the bright.
From looking at factory literature, these also fit:
The next major design change is these flat sided knobs with a cylindrical bright that covers the end of the knob. These are found on my 600-T, X-101-3, X-100-C, FM-100-C and many others. These knobs seem to have gone unchanged for a few years.
From looking at factory literature, these also fit:
An update to the flat sided knobs was made that added slight knurling to the knobs, and a nob to modern styling, the plastic was changed from brown to black, and the brights became brushed stainless. I have these on my 550-T, Model 125 all-in-one.
From looking at factory literature, these also fit:
My 701 4 channel receiver has these knobs. A definite step in the direction of keeping up style-wise with the Stereo components flooding in from Japan at this point. More intricate castings with more Sci-Fi control styling.
From looking at factory literature, these also fit:
My 404 has these controls.