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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: fohat.digs on Mon, 21 December 2015, 07:19:40

Title: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 21 December 2015, 07:19:40
Orihalcon has some nifty little switch testers with clear bases so that you can see them in action:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Model-F-Buckling-Spring-KEYCHAIN-Clicky-Keyboard-Switch-Tester-AT-XT-M-/272068806420?hash=item3f58908714:g:HRQAAOSw7FRWZMgs (http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Model-F-Buckling-Spring-KEYCHAIN-Clicky-Keyboard-Switch-Tester-AT-XT-M-/272068806420?hash=item3f58908714:g:HRQAAOSw7FRWZMgs)

And, as always, he has lots of other great stuff up for sale, including rare IBM keyboards, at fair prices.
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 21 December 2015, 07:48:39
Awesome, gotta get one for my keychain collection.
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: Bucake on Mon, 21 December 2015, 14:17:06
shoulda been cool if the cap was clear as well 8)
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 21 December 2015, 18:44:44
shoulda been cool if the cap was clear as well 8)

Both parts of the cap?
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 22 December 2015, 11:15:45
Nice!  Looks like he used glue, where I used screws (forcing the use of Model M hammers on mine).
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: Bucake on Tue, 22 December 2015, 15:44:40
shoulda been cool if the cap was clear as well 8)

Both parts of the cap?

i was thinking single-piece caps (like his chains are using),
but i doubt anyone's up for making clear model F caps
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 22 December 2015, 17:03:51
shoulda been cool if the cap was clear as well 8)

Both parts of the cap?

i was thinking single-piece caps (like his chains are using),
but i doubt anyone's up for making clear model F caps

And even if they did, probably too much plastic to see clearly what's happening inside.
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: orihalcon on Wed, 23 December 2015, 00:12:26
If you look really closely, you can see the spring buckle from the underside if you have it upside down when pressing.  It's easier to see it pop back into the normal orientation afterwords though :cool:
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: 1391406 on Wed, 23 December 2015, 01:13:24
This would make a nice charm. I'm not sure I understand where you're supposed to attach your keys. There's no keyring.
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: chyros on Wed, 23 December 2015, 18:28:58
This would make a nice charm. I'm not sure I understand where you're supposed to attach your keys. There's no keyring.
There's a little clip at the end. I use the exact same loops for my Alps and Omron keyring switches.
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: 1391406 on Wed, 23 December 2015, 19:39:03
This would make a nice charm. I'm not sure I understand where you're supposed to attach your keys. There's no keyring.
There's a little clip at the end. I use the exact same loops for my Alps and Omron keyring switches.

You're referring to the lobster clasp. I have a bag full of them and the clasps are generally made to accommodate the link on a charm bracelet or a zipper pull and are a lot weaker than a key ring. Further, how many keys can a lobster clasp really hold? One or two at best. I think the idea behind the product is great, though I'd strongly recommend a key ring rather than a lobster clasp, and I'd swap the string with a few bracelet links. That would would look great and be far more reliable. You can buy approx. 50 key rings for a few bucks. They're pretty cheap. This is strictly meant as constructive criticism.
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: SamirD on Thu, 24 December 2015, 07:07:38
Pretty neat.  Do they still make the classic sounds of an F?
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 24 December 2015, 08:19:10
Pretty neat.  Do they still make the classic sounds of an F?

Semi.

Probably louder, actually, but with a light plastic resonance instead of a heavy metal undertone, since it has no real sounding board.
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: SamirD on Sun, 27 December 2015, 15:56:52
Pretty neat.  Do they still make the classic sounds of an F?

Semi.

Probably louder, actually, but with a light plastic resonance instead of a heavy metal undertone, since it has no real sounding board.

Does putting a quarter under it help?  It would be interesting if just adding a 1/8" piece of steel would do the job.

Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 27 December 2015, 16:49:48
Does putting a quarter under it help?  It would be interesting if just adding a 1/8" piece of steel would do the job.

Think of the sounding board of a piano. It is the overall resonance of the entire assembly.

The keychain is a novelty item, not a serious audition.
Title: Re: Model F key chain testers and other stuff
Post by: SamirD on Tue, 29 December 2015, 06:40:47
Does putting a quarter under it help?  It would be interesting if just adding a 1/8" piece of steel would do the job.

Think of the sounding board of a piano. It is the overall resonance of the entire assembly.

The keychain is a novelty item, not a serious audition.

Good point.  At best, it's a showcase of the mechanism.