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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Encabulator on Tue, 25 April 2017, 08:43:35

Title: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: Encabulator on Tue, 25 April 2017, 08:43:35
I've been slowly introducing my father to keyboards and hes starting to really like all the options you have.  Hes having some fun looking at all the old keyboards, either ones he remembers having as a kid (Commodore 64)  and some that are just really wacky. Currently he is liking the look of vintage keyboards that are super blocky/heavy with odd shaped keycaps, either SA style or square-with-a-circle-on-top profile. Of course it would be awesome to have the real thing to use as a keyboard but a lot of these older keyboards that aren't ps2 are super difficult to hook up to modern PCs.  I'm interested in building him a custom vintage style board but the main issue I've had so far is finding keycaps that would be interesting to him.  So my task for you guys is to help me find some either super wacky profile keycaps or a vintage sa style set that would be mx compatible.  It doesn't matter if they're actually vintage or not, they just need to look unique and not be super flashy. Sorry if there are any typos is this I'm writing really quickly and my computer is about to run out of battery ok bye.
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: Tactile on Tue, 25 April 2017, 09:13:28
Here's a set (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2076) of spherical keycaps which might be close to what you're looking for. I have a set and they are very nice, high quality keycaps. Make note, however, that they are not black/white but instead dark brown with ivory markings. I'd call the colors coffee & cream.
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 25 April 2017, 22:29:49
Various "typewriter-style" keycaps are discussed in my thread here (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=83134.0).

Ultimately I decided not to buy any, but perhaps they will suit your build.
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 25 April 2017, 22:36:07
These should work.

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2076
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: zslane on Wed, 26 April 2017, 12:31:53
Here's a set (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2076) of spherical keycaps which might be close to what you're looking for. I have a set and they are very nice, high quality keycaps. Make note, however, that they are not black/white but instead dark brown with ivory markings. I'd call the colors coffee & cream.

Indeed. Here's a photo of my Filco with these keycaps which shows how the color changes depending on the intensity of the light falling on them:

(https://deskthority.net/resources/image/38604)
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: A Future Pilot on Wed, 26 April 2017, 12:37:55
For the next 4 days, /dev/tty will be available: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-matt3o-devtty-custom-keycap-set

You won't get them till October though. :/
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: Encabulator on Wed, 26 April 2017, 16:52:15
For the next 4 days, /dev/tty will be available: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-matt3o-devtty-custom-keycap-set

You won't get them till October though. :/

I want those so bad but I have to resist
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: Encabulator on Wed, 26 April 2017, 16:52:58
Here's a set (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2076) of spherical keycaps which might be close to what you're looking for. I have a set and they are very nice, high quality keycaps. Make note, however, that they are not black/white but instead dark brown with ivory markings. I'd call the colors coffee & cream.

Indeed. Here's a photo of my Filco with these keycaps which shows how the color changes depending on the intensity of the light falling on them:

Show Image
(https://deskthority.net/resources/image/38604)


How have you liked them so far?
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: sth on Wed, 26 April 2017, 16:54:32
Keep an eye out for SA Retro sets.
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: zslane on Wed, 26 April 2017, 17:22:52
Here's a set (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2076) of spherical keycaps which might be close to what you're looking for. I have a set and they are very nice, high quality keycaps. Make note, however, that they are not black/white but instead dark brown with ivory markings. I'd call the colors coffee & cream.

Indeed. Here's a photo of my Filco with these keycaps which shows how the color changes depending on the intensity of the light falling on them:

Show Image
(https://deskthority.net/resources/image/38604)


How have you liked them so far?

They are SA, which I love, so naturally I think they are great. The font and legend placement aren't my favorite (I prefer vintage spherical legend style over IBM PC legend style), but they are probably the best way to get into SA keycaps for a reasonable price, and without having to wait countless months for them to be manufactured and shipped to you.

Keep an eye out for SA Retro sets.

In my experience, that is largely a waste of time. I see one SA Retro set come up for sale per year, on average. And half the time it is some TKL or ISO format set that is useless to me (or anyone else who wants to fill out a full-size ANSI board).
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: Encabulator on Wed, 26 April 2017, 19:02:16
Here's a set (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2076) of spherical keycaps which might be close to what you're looking for. I have a set and they are very nice, high quality keycaps. Make note, however, that they are not black/white but instead dark brown with ivory markings. I'd call the colors coffee & cream.

Indeed. Here's a photo of my Filco with these keycaps which shows how the color changes depending on the intensity of the light falling on them:

Show Image
(https://deskthority.net/resources/image/38604)


How have you liked them so far?

They are SA, which I love, so naturally I think they are great. The font and legend placement aren't my favorite (I prefer vintage spherical legend style over IBM PC legend style), but they are probably the best way to get into SA keycaps for a reasonable price, and without having to wait countless months for them to be manufactured and shipped to you.

Keep an eye out for SA Retro sets.

In my experience, that is largely a waste of time. I see one SA Retro set come up for sale per year, on average. And half the time it is some TKL or ISO format set that is useless to me (or anyone else who wants to fill out a full-size ANSI board).


Its odd, I'm reaching that point of loving keyboards so much that I'm debating weather to buy a new drawing tablet or a set of plastic buttons.
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: sth on Wed, 26 April 2017, 20:25:49
Here's a set (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2076) of spherical keycaps which might be close to what you're looking for. I have a set and they are very nice, high quality keycaps. Make note, however, that they are not black/white but instead dark brown with ivory markings. I'd call the colors coffee & cream.

Indeed. Here's a photo of my Filco with these keycaps which shows how the color changes depending on the intensity of the light falling on them:

Show Image
(https://deskthority.net/resources/image/38604)


How have you liked them so far?

They are SA, which I love, so naturally I think they are great. The font and legend placement aren't my favorite (I prefer vintage spherical legend style over IBM PC legend style), but they are probably the best way to get into SA keycaps for a reasonable price, and without having to wait countless months for them to be manufactured and shipped to you.

Keep an eye out for SA Retro sets.

In my experience, that is largely a waste of time. I see one SA Retro set come up for sale per year, on average. And half the time it is some TKL or ISO format set that is useless to me (or anyone else who wants to fill out a full-size ANSI board).

try pinging samwisekoi or matt3o
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: Encabulator on Fri, 28 April 2017, 09:27:03
Here's a set (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2076) of spherical keycaps which might be close to what you're looking for. I have a set and they are very nice, high quality keycaps. Make note, however, that they are not black/white but instead dark brown with ivory markings. I'd call the colors coffee & cream.

Indeed. Here's a photo of my Filco with these keycaps which shows how the color changes depending on the intensity of the light falling on them:

Show Image
(https://deskthority.net/resources/image/38604)


How have you liked them so far?

They are SA, which I love, so naturally I think they are great. The font and legend placement aren't my favorite (I prefer vintage spherical legend style over IBM PC legend style), but they are probably the best way to get into SA keycaps for a reasonable price, and without having to wait countless months for them to be manufactured and shipped to you.

Keep an eye out for SA Retro sets.

In my experience, that is largely a waste of time. I see one SA Retro set come up for sale per year, on average. And half the time it is some TKL or ISO format set that is useless to me (or anyone else who wants to fill out a full-size ANSI board).

try pinging samwisekoi or matt3o

I really doubt anyone has SA retro. Are we sure that they aren't just an elaborate April fools joke that is still going on from 2015?
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: LevelSteam on Mon, 15 May 2017, 11:40:41
Has anyone with that Filco coffee and cream set attempted to remove the costar mounts from them yet? I've been thinking about picking up a set myself but the board I want them for has cherry stabs.
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: zslane on Mon, 15 May 2017, 11:45:14
I've not tried it yet, but the stabilizer inserts are reportedly pretty easy to pull out of the Filco SA set. The adhesive used is impermanent.
Title: Re: Retro/vintage style key caps CURRENTLY available
Post by: LevelSteam on Mon, 15 May 2017, 19:23:53
Thanks for the feedback. Maybe I'll give them a shot soon then.