Mystery control knob.
 

Some time in the mid-80s, I ordered a Panasonic G deck refurb. kit from Panasonic spares dept. and received the item below instead.
They eventually sent the kit, but did not want this knob back, and it languished in the spares (misc.) draw until the business closed and I retired (health problems). It accompanied me home, and has been in my workshop ever since.
I came across it the other day and have often wondered what is was for. No reference in any Panasonic parts lists that I had identifies it, and I wonder if any of our illustrious forum members could say what its original purpose was.
Very substantial plastic, but I suspect it is for a domestic appliance. Tony.

Re: Mystery control knob.
 

Even the Panasonic website isn't much help.

https://encompass.com/item/245595/Panasonic/FFPLA00191/

Re: Mystery control knob.
 

I think that I have seen similar knobs on gas heaters. (mains or LPG)
Very substantial because it does not just turn the gas on, but also operates the piezo ignitor.
Did Panasonic make gas heaters ? or other gas appliances ?

Re: Mystery control knob.
 

:idea:

Me thinks it looks like as it could ignite a Flux Compensator

Re: Mystery control knob.
 

Other FFPLA00xxx numbers mostly seem to point to knobs. One is described as an 'exposure knob' while another is described as a 'drum knob'. It might be from a copier.

Edit: found something; FFPLA00501 is a cover linked to a Panasonic FP4630 copier.

Edit2: upon closer inspection, the already linked encompassparts website, mentions FP1520, FP2230, FP3040 as compatible sets, so this information was already hidden in plain sight/site.

Re: Mystery control knob.
 

Quite commonly if it is green, in a copier and is made by Panasonic, it would be a user operable item, so part of the paper path mechanism (ie open something to clear jams) or to enable the replacement of toner or drum.

Re: Mystery control knob.
 

I know we had a Panasonic laser printer at college that would have had a lot of things that would open with many (I would guess) green knobs/levers, I remember it didn't take cartridges but had a toner door where toner would be poured in.

Possibly (looking online) it would have been a KX-P4450, old/aging and really slow to process pages but we had a lot of "junk" in one of the computer/physics rooms.

Re: Mystery control knob.
 

Thank you gentlemen for your thoughts on this device.
It seems, from the comments above, to have been intended for a copier or similar office equipment.
As it is a rather attractive bit of gear, I shall retain it, and use it on some future project.
Thanks for looking and investigating.
Another small mystery cleared up. (Well, almost ;D ) Tony.