Find old keyboards advice?

[Zukoi]

I am trying to find old alps keyboard to use for the keycaps and plate. So far, the seach is fruitless. EBay is full of overpriced boards and thrift shops don't have boards in the first place.

I haven't gone to a flea market or e-recycler yet, but I doubt that would lead to anywhere. You guys have any advice on finding old keyboards that are worth a damn? Also what alps board should I use as a donator?

[CPTBadAss]

What exactly are you looking for and why do you say you can't find boards at an e-cycler? I've bought many Alps boards from eBay and found many at the e-waste place.

Boards that I really like:
Dell AT101W
Omnikey anything
Wang 724/725
Apple AEK/AEKII

Chicony boards are ok and there's a lot of XT/AT clones which have Alps or Alps mount switches.

[Zukoi]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I said that I haven't gone to an e-cycler. Maybe that's where I need to go of you're having luck. Thrift shops are a waste of time for electronics.

I am looking for a Alps keyboard that's have a standard ANSI so I can cut it down to a %60 keyboard with a seperate numpad. I plan to replace the switches with Matias clicky. I want to find a board with a solid plate and good keycaps, so it doesn't matter if it's broken or not.

[fohat.digs]

I am looking for a Alps keyboard that's have a standard ANSI so I can cut it down to a %60 keyboard with a seperate numpad. I plan to replace the switches with Matias clicky. I want to find a board with a solid plate and good keycaps, so it doesn't matter if it's broken or not.

Thrift stores are great if you have one or more that you drive by regularly and have some patience. Stop in once a week and within half a year you will find something. Oh, not that patient?

You want a Dell AT101. Great, solid boards. You will curse the tech who built it if they bent over too many of the switch legs (many of them did - aarrrggghh!)

Somebody, maybe Grimey, has a thread where he made a nice AT101 "unsaver"

[Zukoi]

Thanks, the dell at101 seems to be my best bet. They seem to be common on eBay so finding one in a e-recycler looks likely.

[absyrd]

When I first started this hobby, I went to the e-cycler and just had them hold keyboards for me in a box. They cut all the cables to process them, but that wasn't a big deal because I could always put a new one on.

I also made a little print-out to give to thrift stores and the like as some of them told me if it wasn't USB, it didn't go to the shelves but rather got tossed. Many of them hung 'em up and I got emails and calls.

Point is that they still DO get the older boards we are looking for... you just have to put in some extra work and possibly build relationships.

[Zukoi]

Thanks for the advice, I don't know if anyone would give special treatment to a random person on the street but it doesn't hurt to try to work out something.

Honestly I would rather be soldering switches, staining wooden cases, and making firmware than go easter egg hunting and using up gas for empty hands. But different strokes for different folks.

[Venatorious]

I might have something for you. I got a few apple keyboards and also a video writer alps mount plate.

[chyros]

DO go to a recycling centre. Ask them to keep old keyboards for you; anything heavy, noisy, or interesting. Or, if they're not sure, just keep all of them. Tell them you'll come back in a week. Profit.

Other options include asking around in buildings with lots of old computers. Stuff like offices, university buildings (particularly sciencey ones, they tend to have very old equipment which sometimes bites the dust), that sort of thing. Most buldings have a room with stuff to do disposed of, you can get lucky that way.