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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: the_marsbar on Mon, 09 May 2016, 03:57:07

Title: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: the_marsbar on Mon, 09 May 2016, 03:57:07: Is it going to be impossible to find blank Realforce keysets? I'd be very interested in a pink (cherry blossom) or yellow. I've been looking for a while, but haven't seen any for sale (when the sale was on at some point last year, I didn't know much about mechanical keyboards).
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: Belfong on Mon, 09 May 2016, 04:55:19: Classifieds is probably your only hope. And offering lots of $. And even then, I'm not sure if you will be successful. Lots of others have tried and failed.
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 09 May 2016, 06:06:45: Few and far between is the lot of the poor RealForce owners these days.

Even widebasket only has a few printed sets left.

I did hear a rumour that production might resume at some stage, but don't hold your breath.
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: nmur on Mon, 09 May 2016, 06:50:29: I've searched far and wide for these sets for the better part of a year, and have managed to obtain two (which I love). one was through lots of luck, and the other was from lots of cash.

some of the sets are relatively less rare, others I've never seen a recent photo of

a few sets have popped up for sale around here and reddit, but they're mostly priced at $150+ USD

like Belfong said, one of the best ways would be to express your interests in the classifieds, and just wait

good luck
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: bocahgundul on Mon, 09 May 2016, 06:52:07: I would kill someone for green blanks or red blanks
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: Belfong on Mon, 09 May 2016, 07:00:29: I think printed sets are still pretty common. But the blanks - those are lost artifacts!
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: nmur on Mon, 09 May 2016, 07:10:34: Quote from: Belfong on Mon, 09 May 2016, 07:00:29
I think printed sets are still pretty common. But the blanks - those are lost artifacts!

i still have nightmares after missing two hendyzone restocks of pink blanks...
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: Belfong on Mon, 09 May 2016, 07:12:27: You did pretty well, nmur, being able to grab two sets. What colour are those? Red and?
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: yomammary on Mon, 09 May 2016, 08:31:51: White blanks please!
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: nmur on Mon, 09 May 2016, 08:48:20: Quote from: Belfong on Mon, 09 May 2016, 07:12:27
You did pretty well, nmur, being able to grab two sets. What colour are those? Red and?

blue, both printed

goes really well with my white realforce
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: the_marsbar on Mon, 09 May 2016, 14:55:04: Thanks. That's what I feared.

I'll keep my fingers crossed, hoping they'll resume production. They non-printed sets are so nice. I'm happy with the white/grey and black keysets that I currenly have, but I wouldn't mind adding a bit of color :)
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: Waateva on Mon, 09 May 2016, 17:21:43: Excuse my ignorance, but why is this the case? Is there a patent preventing the mass production of blanks or something?
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: exitfire401 on Mon, 09 May 2016, 18:22:36: Quote from: Waateva on Mon, 09 May 2016, 17:21:43
Excuse my ignorance, but why is this the case? Is there a patent preventing the mass production of blanks or something?

Topre is the only company capable of mass manufacturing the sets (because they have the molds) and have stopped production on the sets. People have looked into the possibility of SP running sets, but they've determined the molds to be too costly to produce. Topre already ran a new run of the printed sets, but it looks like that's the closest we'll be getting to new sets in the near future. Time to Novatouch up!
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 09 May 2016, 21:46:36: Quote from: yomammary on Mon, 09 May 2016, 08:31:51
White blanks please!

You might almost get by with a couple of HHKB blank white sets ...
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: Waateva on Mon, 09 May 2016, 21:50:53: Quote from: exitfire401 on Mon, 09 May 2016, 18:22:36
Quote from: Waateva on Mon, 09 May 2016, 17:21:43
Excuse my ignorance, but why is this the case? Is there a patent preventing the mass production of blanks or something?

Topre is the only company capable of mass manufacturing the sets (because they have the molds) and have stopped production on the sets. People have looked into the possibility of SP running sets, but they've determined the molds to be too costly to produce. Topre already ran a new run of the printed sets, but it looks like that's the closest we'll be getting to new sets in the near future. Time to Novatouch up!

Okay that makes more sense, thanks for the clarification.
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: exitfire401 on Mon, 09 May 2016, 22:14:49: Quote from: Waateva on Mon, 09 May 2016, 21:50:53
Quote from: exitfire401 on Mon, 09 May 2016, 18:22:36
Quote from: Waateva on Mon, 09 May 2016, 17:21:43
Excuse my ignorance, but why is this the case? Is there a patent preventing the mass production of blanks or something?

Topre is the only company capable of mass manufacturing the sets (because they have the molds) and have stopped production on the sets. People have looked into the possibility of SP running sets, but they've determined the molds to be too costly to produce. Topre already ran a new run of the printed sets, but it looks like that's the closest we'll be getting to new sets in the near future. Time to Novatouch up!

Okay that makes more sense, thanks for the clarification.

No problem. It's something that doesn't come up as often as you would probably think.
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: yomammary on Wed, 11 May 2016, 08:28:18: Quote from: rowdy on Mon, 09 May 2016, 21:46:36
Quote from: yomammary on Mon, 09 May 2016, 08:31:51
White blanks please!

You might almost get by with a couple of HHKB blank white sets ...
Almost isn't good enough for me :cool:
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: the_marsbar on Thu, 12 May 2016, 03:36:58: Who would one contact in order to let Topre know that there's a demand for these keysets?
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: dunglefinker on Thu, 12 May 2016, 10:33:40: Someday I'm gonna get that red japanese legends set. SOMEDAY
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: ghostjuggernaut on Thu, 12 May 2016, 11:30:21: Quote from: the_marsbar on Thu, 12 May 2016, 03:36:58
Who would one contact in order to let Topre know that there's a demand for these keysets?
A few people have contacted them. Their response was they would do it, but at an insane MOQ per color. This was last summer, so I doubt much has changed. You could always reach out though.
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: reaper on Thu, 12 May 2016, 11:56:31: Quote from: Belfong on Mon, 09 May 2016, 07:00:29
I think printed sets are still pretty common. But the blanks - those are lost artifacts!

Feels like I'm a tomb raider with some lost artifacts! :) I might be willing to trade so if anyone interested please PM me for details. Oh and I will ship to US address only (lower 48 states) so please make sure you have a US address or at least a proxy if you're not in US.

That white one is strictly for HHKB.

(http://i.imgur.com/DEn5x6B.jpg)
Title: Re: Realforce (Topre) keyset availability
Post by: wiredPANDA on Thu, 12 May 2016, 12:43:06: That pink set... Too good.

Quote from: reaper on Thu, 12 May 2016, 11:56:31
Quote from: Belfong on Mon, 09 May 2016, 07:00:29
I think printed sets are still pretty common. But the blanks - those are lost artifacts!

Feels like I'm a tomb raider with some lost artifacts! :) I might be willing to trade so if anyone interested please PM me for details. Oh and I will ship to US address only (lower 48 states) so please make sure you have a US address or at least a proxy if you're not in US.

That white one is strictly for HHKB.

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/DEn5x6B.jpg)