geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: deadlyfunzo on Mon, 20 May 2013, 04:23:50
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Hello gents.
I have caught the bug and want to get into getting some older, rarer keyboards.
Everyone talks about the Model M, but I was wondering what were some other type of retro keyboards I could pick up fairly easily.
(I know this is my second topic, sorry for double post...I'll try not to do it again)
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Ask everybody you run into, at home and at work. There are a lot of people with keyboards in the basement.
Yard sales and thrift stores - occasionally - yield up some interesting finds, and they are usually very cheap.
Don't be afraid to buy low (condition-wise) and upgrade later if you like something.
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Ask everybody you run into, at home and at work. There are a lot of people with keyboards in the basement.
Yard sales and thrift stores - occasionally - yield up some interesting finds, and they are usually very cheap.
Don't be afraid to buy low (condition-wise) and upgrade later if you like something.
I used to work at a PC repair shop when I was in school, they were good but I doubt they would care much about old keyboards...I might have a look there as well as some yard sales.
Would you recommend some brands/models that would be worth looking for online?
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I would highly recommend getting a Dell AT101W with Tactile Black Alps. It's one of my favorite Alps and older keyboards. I wrote a review on it here (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41868.0) and I'm now currently using one as a basis for an Alps TKL custom keyboard.
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In addition to the Dell AT101W, I'd recommend the Apple Extended Keyboard and Chicony KB-5181.
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Also the Focus 2001 and other number sets. Not cheap but Northgate Omnikeys are nice.
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I think early Dell keyboards were mechanical and can be picked up for fairly cheap
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I absolutely love older keyboards simply as collectible items. I really want to invest in a handful of shadow box frames and mount them on my walls.
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You can get lucky with old Cherrys, too. I got an G80-1000HDD a few days ago, manufactured in 1987, with MX blacks and I love it ;) And it's in absolutely perfect condition.
Are you looking out for these things to use them daily, or just to nail them to a wall or something? If second, even older keyboards may be more interesting, as they often have a very random and funny layout. I have a 1984 Future Technologie keyboard with prototype blacks, I tried to game and type with this for a while but it just gets too annoying, no arrow keys, capslock is switched with right Ctrl etc.^^
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You can get lucky with old Cherrys, too. I got an G80-1000HDD a few days ago, manufactured in 1987, with MX blacks and I love it ;) And it's in absolutely perfect condition.
Are you looking out for these things to use them daily, or just to nail them to a wall or something? If second, even older keyboards may be more interesting, as they often have a very random and funny layout. I have a 1984 Future Technologie keyboard with prototype blacks, I tried to game and type with this for a while but it just gets too annoying, no arrow keys, capslock is switched with right Ctrl etc.^^
Probably a combination of the two.
I love typing and want to experience some of the original switches, but also would love to put together a display in the future.
Some of the old cherry boards look great.
Thanks for the recommendation.
Thankyou to everyone else for your input.
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There's a Dell AT101W here for like $14...
Shipping to Australia is $56, otherwise I would've already bought it to clean up and try out!
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Actually, just came to my mind, you might like the G80-2100: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_G80-2100
They look pretty exotic, but the layout is still okay to use them everyday (you don't have do get used to something like this, I believe that would be rather complicated: http://deskthority.net/wiki/File:IBM_Model_F_AT.jpg). On the other hand, that's one great keyboard for a collection (Model F was 2-3 years earlier than the Model M).
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Don't be afraid of dirty or yellowed keyboards. Dirty keyboards can be cleaned. Yellowed plastic can be retr0bright'ed.
And some keyboards, such as those from Commodore are supposed to be a bit beige.
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as those from Commodore are supposed to be a bit beige.
Are there Commodore Boards that have caps you can put on Cherry MX switches?
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Are there Commodore Boards that have caps you can put on Cherry MX switches?
Yep. Cherry OEM keyboards with Cherry MX Black switches and thick doubleshot keycaps. One variant (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_G80-0904) of the different keyboards for the Amiga 2000. One variant (http://deskthority.net/wiki/G80-0777) of the different keyboards for the Amiga 1000.
Keyboards with Model F-like layout for Commodore PC-5 and PC-10: One that talks AT protocol (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_G80-0915) and one that doesn't (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_G80-0499).
There are also Amiga keyboards with "space invader" NMB switches (Amiga 500, 2000) and mechanical NMB switches (Amiga 1000), but the large majority of Commodore keyboards were made by Mitsumi with Mitsumi switches: either linear (integrated) or with tactile rubber sleeve (separate keyboard) .. and not that special.