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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: billm on Tue, 13 January 2009, 22:48:28

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: billm on Tue, 13 January 2009, 22:48:28

http://steampunkworkshop.com/keyboard.shtml

He seems to make them out of mechanical switches and old typewriter parts.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: iMav on Wed, 14 January 2009, 05:23:51

Some people here really admire them.  Personally, I think they are ridiculous.  I'd rather give up computing all together than be forced to use one of them on a regular basis.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: zwmalone on Wed, 14 January 2009, 05:35:08

It said it can be used to touch type but the ridiculous key shape alone would prohibit me from doing that...

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: lam47 on Wed, 14 January 2009, 06:06:48

still its very creative. I like the look of them but would also not be able to use one for long.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: dougy on Wed, 14 January 2009, 06:27:36

Attractive or not the key shape really wouldn't be very difficult to adapt to. The metal rims provide a raised edge that defines a nice sweet spot for the finger, while the glass surface (when clean) has a nicer feel than plastic. Clean is a key here, every mechanical typewriter I remember had an accumulation of dirt where the metal met the glass. Think of ink mixed with dust over a period of years, the result was more like concrete than dirt.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: lowpoly on Wed, 14 January 2009, 07:02:49

Quote

Attractive or not the key shape really wouldn't be very difficult to adapt to.

Seconding this. After all, the keys were taken from old typewriters.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 14 January 2009, 07:07:04

I wish this guy would use Unicomp 'boards for these projects instead of vintage IBMs.  I, personally, feel uneasy about destroying these treasures when there is new stuff to tear up.  For one of these, he tore up a perfectly good M15.  I nearly lost my lunch.  Those 'boards are extremely rare to begin with (keyboard enthusiast or not) let alone destroying one for parts.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: lam47 on Wed, 14 January 2009, 11:13:09

destroying is a bit harsh. I bet he makes more for his steampunk boards than an M15 is worth.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 14 January 2009, 11:22:18

Maybe, but he takes a good M15 out of circulation (and there aren't many to be had in the first place).

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: lam47 on Thu, 15 January 2009, 04:24:17

I do agree with you personally. I would rather the boards stay intact.
But Im also a big fan of this sort of creativity. I mean this is more to look at than use on a day to day basis.
I am particularly impressed with his brass work.
I assumed he was getting those parts from some other item not making them by hand!
Metal work always impresses me though as I work in wood :)

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: afton on Wed, 29 July 2009, 18:36:24

I was going to start a new thread but decided to continue on this one.

This keyboard http://www.datamancer.net/keyboards/vonslattoriginal/vonslattoriginal.htm  
made me want to learn all the hows of working with metals.

Even if I have the money I won't be ordering it because
I think half the satisfaction is in the process of building it and I custom it
to my need, which is ergo layout, plus it has to be functional as well
for fast typing.

(http://www.datamancer.net/keyboards/vonslattoriginal/vonslattoriginal1.jpg)

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: bitflipper on Wed, 29 July 2009, 20:43:20

Anybody have a problem with destroying typewriters? Why doesn't he just use those brass rimmed buttons for all the keys? They're bound to be cheaper than a set of vintage typewriter keys.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: timw4mail on Wed, 29 July 2009, 20:58:26

Quote from: bitflipper;105450

Anybody have a problem with destroying typewriters? Why doesn't he just use those brass rimmed buttons for all the keys? They're bound to be cheaper than a set of vintage typewriter keys.

I can't see brass-rimmed buttons as being that much easier to aquire.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: bitflipper on Wed, 29 July 2009, 23:25:20

I was thinking of the old Royals from the '30s and '40s. Some writers still use those or at least have the same reverence for them as we have for the Model Ms. The Royal typewriters and key sets do seem to be fairly abundant on ebay.

The modders have my permission to destroy all the Selectrics in the world.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: bitflipper on Thu, 30 July 2009, 01:04:17

Quote from: ripster;105480

That would take a while.  Plus, by the time they do they'll be in fashion again like 70's kitchens.

Gak! I remember the 70's (and not from the TV show). Not a very fashionable decade. Experimental, so I've heard. A lot of great music came out of the '70s, though.

I'm waiting for somebody to do a "beige box" retro mod, complete with a humongous 24" lcd jammed into a beige CRT case.  Now that would be cool! No?

Back to steampunk. I really find the steampunk mouse inspires more creativity than the run of the mill Royal typewriter keycaps 'board.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: xsphat on Thu, 30 July 2009, 01:57:06

This thread brought a tear to my eye. The thing about those keys, they have a glass lens in them and they really aren't very comfortable to type on considering what we have now. They crack or the letters turn to stupid angles and they are b!tch to keep clean. And most of the key sets come off of perfectly functional typewriters these people find at junk shops, flea markets and garage sales for cheap to free. I equate key harvesters to whalers. They're scum and deserve to rot in the hell where people are skinned alive (recognize that quote, Ripster?).

But ultimately it doesn't effect me in the least. I like typewriters from the 50s and up, glass keys weren't used much after 1935.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: xsphat on Thu, 30 July 2009, 14:11:28

It's from Big Trouble in Little China.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2007/2269862594_121d352165.jpg)

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 30 July 2009, 16:19:45

I had a roommate in college that loved B movies. I can't tell you how many times I have seen Big Trouble in Little China and Beastmaster.
 
Oh, and Bloodsport.
 
TBS's Movies For Guys Who Like Movies  was a staple in the dorm room.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: xsphat on Thu, 30 July 2009, 17:51:03

Thank you Ripster! That pic is now my desktop. The pic I posted was a screencap off a rip and it was avatar for sooooo long a while back.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: xsphat on Thu, 30 July 2009, 17:55:04

Little trivia about Big Trouble in Little China - the original script was a western, and if you watch it again you'll notice all the traditional western precepts still in the film, though they aren't as blatant as in Firefly/Serenity. The concept of the first script was the same, that being a movie where the sidekick is the star.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 31 July 2009, 08:04:11

Kung Fu was money.

Title: Steampunk keyboards
Post by: Rajagra on Fri, 31 July 2009, 08:33:10

Quote from: ripster;105666

I like the full size pic.

Show Image

(http://veggiemacabre.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/2e68e1f7-71fb-45bb-9e94-338c6bcc1d72.jpg)

Needs music.