geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: instantkamera on Sat, 17 July 2010, 11:54:24
-
So I have been a lurker here for a bit. I have been enjoying my model M, recently acquired a BNIB Dell AT101W (which is nice, but not as nice as my IBM) and was out hitting yard-sales today when I came across this tandy keyboard.
It was an interesting feeling board so I bought it just to see what it is packing in terms of a switch.
I popped one of the caps off, and it looks just like the two peice keys on the model M (where this top part of the cap that pops off is just a cover that doesn't actually interface with the switch). However, I have no idea what the switch is underneath. The plastic "key" underneath the cap is oddly molded, with seemingly unnecessary grooves, holes and an odd shape. This definitely doesnt handle or sound buckling spring.
Long story short, does anyone have an idea what this is. Is it worth tearing into for refurbing?
The keycap/cover looks like it will fit my IBM and are in good shape so Ill probably keep it for that.
Thanks.
P.S. - Ill try to take some pics later if anyone cares.
-
The best way to find out is to take a screwdriver and open the thing up... the older the keyboard, the more different mechanisms it can be.
-
From your description, it might be a rubber dome with slider keyboard.
-
So I have been a lurker here for a bit. I have been enjoying my model M, recently acquired a BNIB Dell AT101W (which is nice, but not as nice as my IBM) and was out hitting yard-sales today when I came across this tandy keyboard.
It was an interesting feeling board so I bought it just to see what it is packing in terms of a switch.
I popped one of the caps off, and it looks just like the two peice keys on the model M (where this top part of the cap that pops off is just a cover that doesn't actually interface with the switch). However, I have no idea what the switch is underneath. The plastic "key" underneath the cap is oddly molded, with seemingly unnecessary grooves, holes and an odd shape. This definitely doesnt handle or sound buckling spring.
Long story short, does anyone have an idea what this is. Is it worth tearing into for refurbing?
The keycap/cover looks like it will fit my IBM and are in good shape so Ill probably keep it for that.
Thanks.
P.S. - Ill try to take some pics later if anyone cares.
It does kind of sound like a rubber dome with sliders. If there's a hole at the top of the slider, you sometimes can see a little rubber dome.
Lurkers!
(http://soaos.sourceforge.net/images/shots/SS08F9A009.jpg)
-
define "slider", you dont mean like a regular dome with the long arm that pushes the rubber dome down, correct? Those keycaps are usually one piece and when they are removed you can clearly see the dome (but im sure you all know that).
I mean to take this apart when I have the time but was just wondering if anyone had an info. The only info I have found on this keyboard indicates that it could be similar to a fujitsu "peerless" ...
-
Slider means an intermediate element between the keycap and the underlying mechanism.
Can you pull the thing up and out?
-
Can you pull the thing up and out?
nope ... looks like this:
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b40/instantkamera/tandy1.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b40/instantkamera/tandy2.jpg)
-
That's what I was expecting... Can you pull it up? It's probably either rubber dome or a Peerless.
-
yeah hold on I stand corrected ... I went ape **** on the white section and it pulls up eventually (and nothing appears broken). These are the guts:
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b40/instantkamera/tandy3.jpg)
-
Peerless!
Not exactly people's favorite keyboard around here, but at least something of a step up from a standard rubber dome keyboard.
To qualify my earlier guess - there are some keyboards that used the exact same type of slider, except it's a rubber dome underneath.
-
ahhhh ... interesting. In fact, you are correct, I noticed after tearing this open that it does have some reserved spaces that have exposed the unused portions of the membrane:
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b40/instantkamera/tandy4.jpg)
In all honesty it kinda feels like ****, but I may take a stab at cleaning it up to see if it improves.
Right now I think I prefer my Keytronic 3601 to this thing...
Few things to note:
- keycaps are NOT interchangeable with the model M ... the cross-shaped molding on the underside of the tandy's caps keep them from "locking" in place on the IBM.
- this thing IS reasonably well constructed. At least, when I cracked it open I noticed the internals are not held together by plastic rivets:
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b40/instantkamera/tandy5.jpg)
So has already had the rivet mod done ;)
Anyway, thanks a bunch for your help.
-
Although I do not like the feel of the switches of this keyboard, I will say one thing for it, it works with XT and AT keyboard interfaces without flaw. It even works with an IBM PC Model 5150, with which even IBM's Model M's have a mixed record.