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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 13 January 2014, 07:20:47

Title: USB Typewriter
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 13 January 2014, 07:20:47
So its probably been posted but I searched and didn't find anything....

Who knew this was a thing?

http://www.usbtypewriter.com/
Title: Re: USB Typewriter
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 13 January 2014, 07:55:30
For a little while I had three Selectrics in my house. I was pretty into those and I've always had at the back of my head that I'd get one to play with. Unfortunately, according to their FAQ (http://www.usbtypewriter.com/pages/faq) and this post on GH (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=10965.msg210407#msg210407), Selectrics look like they can't be converted. That being said, Olivetti has some keyboards that will work with that usbtypewriter converter.

Anyways, this looks interesting. Maybe it's time to hit up thrift stores near me again. Or maybe just Urban Outfitters (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=16650962) :P.
Title: Re: USB Typewriter
Post by: JimByr on Mon, 13 January 2014, 09:26:46
He sells these on Etsy. I ran across them last month looking for Christmas gifts on Etsy.
Title: Re: USB Typewriter
Post by: synerr on Mon, 13 January 2014, 09:41:32
So its probably been posted but I searched and didn't find anything....

Who knew this was a thing?

http://www.usbtypewriter.com/

Ironically came across that page yesterday when trying to see if anyone still makes mechanical typewriters.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2012/nov/20/last-british-made-typewriter
Title: Re: USB Typewriter
Post by: Puddsy on Wed, 15 January 2014, 14:45:20
I've got a typewriter that's ripe for this...

Could be fun...
Title: Re: USB Typewriter
Post by: regack on Wed, 15 January 2014, 14:52:10
Oh.  Yes.  I will build me one of these.  Yes.
Title: Re: USB Typewriter
Post by: spuriousgeorge on Wed, 15 January 2014, 15:11:54
These sound really interesting. I have an old Olympia SM4 I wouldn't mind converting. Has anyone here actually tried doing the conversion?

I'm not terribly good with tools and don't know if I'd be able to pull it off.
Title: Re: USB Typewriter
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 16 January 2014, 01:15:21
For a little while I had three Selectrics in my house. I was pretty into those and I've always had at the back of my head that I'd get one to play with. Unfortunately, according to their FAQ (http://www.usbtypewriter.com/pages/faq) and this post on GH (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=10965.msg210407#msg210407), Selectrics look like they can't be converted. That being said, Olivetti has some keyboards that will work with that usbtypewriter converter.

However, there is enough room to put something in under the typebars. I'm still looking into both optical and hall effect switches so they won't change the action.