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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: monteyalps on Wed, 17 October 2018, 20:03:16

Title: Fake Unicomp PC 122?
Post by: monteyalps on Wed, 17 October 2018, 20:03:16

So I picked up this supposed 2010 Unicomp PC 122 off eBay and it came in the mail today. When I picked it up it seemed surprisingly light and being that I've never got to enjoy a buckling spring KB before I was pretty excited. But, when I got home and unboxed it I was pretty ****ing pissed when the keys were basically silent and felt like membrane ****. I've attatched a couple pictures and the original eBay ad below. Is this a Unicomp fake? Why the **** would someone fake a Unicomp? Or were the springs harvested or something?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IO-Unicomp-Model-M-Black-Keyboard-IBM-Style-Part-Number-58-069/323461775154?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Title: Re: Fake Unicomp PC 122?
Post by: appaboy on Wed, 17 October 2018, 20:09:39

its just a rubber dome vaariant made my unicomp using the same design as their buckling spring variant ones. sorry this happened to you.  btw membrane =/= rubber dome, the normal model m with buckling springs uses a membrane too.

Title: Re: Fake Unicomp PC 122?
Post by: monteyalps on Wed, 17 October 2018, 21:23:10

Ah well ****, I didn't know they offered a Rubber Dome variant(Idk why I said membrane lol). Thanks, do you happen to know if the case and or the key caps(not the stem but the actual cap/cover not too sure what that is exactly called) will work on the buckling spring variant?

Title: Re: Fake Unicomp PC 122?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Wed, 17 October 2018, 22:21:11

Everything is compatible with a standard buckling spring of the same era, except for the keystems, as they're "solid" and don't have room for a spring.

Theoretically, you could get a set of buckling spring stems, and the spring/plate assemblies, and bolt mod the thing to buckling spring (once you remove the rubber dome sheet).  Would be a huge pain in the ass, but everything else is the same.

Title: Re: Fake Unicomp PC 122?
Post by: monteyalps on Thu, 18 October 2018, 12:20:23

Quote from: E TwentyNine on Wed, 17 October 2018, 22:21:11

Everything is compatible with a standard buckling spring of the same era, except for the keystems, as they're "solid" and don't have room for a spring.

Theoretically, you could get a set of buckling spring stems, and the spring/plate assemblies, and bolt mod the thing to buckling spring (once you remove the rubber dome sheet).  Would be a huge pain in the ass, but everything else is the same.

Interesting. So it's not a total loss then, good to know! Thanks.