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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: babuinix on Sun, 09 March 2014, 22:40:54

Title: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: babuinix on Sun, 09 March 2014, 22:40:54
Hello just recently got hold of a model M keyboard and was looking for some spare keys to dye.

What would be the keycaps on this thing, anyone would know?

(http://images04.olx.pt/ui/31/64/45/Fotos-de-Maquina-escrever_450355945_1.jpg?x=1394011268)
(http://olx-t.imgrap.com/ui/31/64/45/450355945_2x.jpg?x=1394011268)

Thx in advance!
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 09 March 2014, 22:55:46
don't you taint that selectric

It's basically a beamspring, but older.

but seriously, don't taint it, it looks so good as it is
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: babuinix on Sun, 09 March 2014, 23:10:42
don't you taint that selectric

It's basically a beamspring, but older.

but seriously, don't taint it, it looks so good as it is

I dont want nothing with the typewriter, just need keys suplys!!

And those typewritters sell for like 20 bucks...
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: Parak on Sun, 09 March 2014, 23:24:04
It's not a selectric, it's a wheelwriter... quite more common and not quite as iconic. Plus the feel is replicable with any model M, except with a pretty bad layout that is hard to make functional standalone. So yeah, I'd say harvest away for springs, hammer, keys, etc.
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: berserkfan on Sun, 09 March 2014, 23:50:12
don't you taint that selectric

It's basically a beamspring, but older.

but seriously, don't taint it, it looks so good as it is

I dont want nothing with the typewriter, just need keys suplys!!

And those typewritters sell for like 20 bucks...

Check to make sure it isn't a beam spring. These things are worth more.
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: babuinix on Mon, 10 March 2014, 05:37:06
Is there any place with info on typewritter keycaps and their compability with buclking spring model Mīs?

What would be the best direction to hunt some old keycaps to use on model m?
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: babuinix on Mon, 10 March 2014, 08:48:18
(http://olx-t.imgrap.com/ui/28/15/19/446570619_1x.jpg?x=1393926110)

Someone selling this for 10 bucks, should i go for it for they keycaps or its a waste?
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: Parak on Mon, 10 March 2014, 12:37:50
At the very least you can scavenge their internal keyboard assembly (same construction as an M), and then decide what to do with it later. It's often cost prohibitive to repair these entirely, though if they are in a fully working condition, which is unlikely for $10, it's usually worth more to some people, maybe around $100.
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: ideus on Mon, 10 March 2014, 13:30:47
It is interesting the typewirters may be value some for someone. The OP is asking about the compatibility of their caps with a BS board. So I suggest someone with information on that to contribute to the thread. However, the OP does not seem to be interested in get into reselling the antique typewriters.
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: hoggy on Mon, 10 March 2014, 13:33:55
I've harvested caps from a 6747 (couldn't take the whole unit).  They work fine on a Model M.
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: babuinix on Mon, 10 March 2014, 15:21:39
I've harvested caps from a 6747 (couldn't take the whole unit).  They work fine on a Model M.

THIS
Exactly!! Ill scavenge for cheap ibm typewritters and remove their keys to gather materials for my future dyeing experiences!!

(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m70mpbFoLs1r3kkje.jpg)

Much Obliged
^^

(http://olx-t.imgrap.com/ui/25/84/93/440198193_1x.jpg?x=1394054112)

Hope this one is compatible also!! want that power on Keycap and the blank ones!!
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: Parak on Mon, 10 March 2014, 20:49:36
It is interesting the typewirters may be value some for someone. The OP is asking about the compatibility of their caps with a BS board. So I suggest someone with information on that to contribute to the thread. However, the OP does not seem to be interested in get into reselling the antique typewriters.

Note my first post in the thread. Perhaps I should have been more explicit about it... but harvesting perfectly functional machines and rendering them useless is not something typically do, so hence my other post as advice and nothing more.

Oh, and that optima is most definitely not compatible. No idea which switch it uses though, but since it's german I suspect some type of cherry or perhaps marquardt.
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: babuinix on Mon, 10 March 2014, 21:34:38
Note my first post in the thread. Perhaps I should have been more explicit about it... but harvesting perfectly functional machines and rendering them useless is not something typically do, so hence my other post as advice and nothing more.

Oh, and that optima is most definitely not compatible. No idea which switch it uses though, but since it's german I suspect some type of cherry or perhaps marquardt.

Yeap guess ill stick with IBM ones!
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: ideus on Mon, 10 March 2014, 21:35:06
It is interesting the typewirters may be value some for someone. The OP is asking about the compatibility of their caps with a BS board. So I suggest someone with information on that to contribute to the thread. However, the OP does not seem to be interested in get into reselling the antique typewriters.

Note my first post in the thread. Perhaps I should have been more explicit about it... but harvesting perfectly functional machines and rendering them useless is not something typically do, so hence my other post as advice and nothing more.

Oh, and that optima is most definitely not compatible. No idea which switch it uses though, but since it's german I suspect some type of cherry or perhaps marquardt.


I undertood the intention of your post. I was just suggesting to keep the comments focused on what the OP was asking, advice on what key caps he can harvest for his keyboard. Of course he may not be aware of the value of the type writer.
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: FoxWolf1 on Tue, 11 March 2014, 13:42:05
Hmm.

So, in theory, could IBM typewriters of the right kind be modded for aesthetics with Unicomp keycaps?
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: ideus on Tue, 11 March 2014, 17:41:34
Hmm.

So, in theory, could IBM typewriters of the right kind be modded for aesthetics with Unicomp keycaps?


Modding a typewriter? Is someone actually using a typewriter these days?
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: babuinix on Tue, 11 March 2014, 17:44:56
Hmm.

So, in theory, could IBM typewriters of the right kind be modded for aesthetics with Unicomp keycaps?


Modding a typewriter? Is someone actually using a typewriter these days?

I think he means electric ones, tought about that myself...
Title: Re: Electrical Typewriters keys in keyboards? (buckling spring)
Post by: berserkfan on Wed, 12 March 2014, 02:56:39


Note my first post in the thread. Perhaps I should have been more explicit about it... but harvesting perfectly functional machines and rendering them useless is not something typically do, so hence my other post as advice and nothing more.


Actually, I think 99% of the ghers will be happy to take a perfectly functioning Razer, say that the Razer is going to die in a few weeks anyway, and take it apart for the switches rendering them useless.  :p