deskthority

I thought it could be useful to have a thread dedicated to sources that people have found for keycaps (especially specialized or custom keycaps) and other parts (such as spacebar stabilizers, barrels, springs, hammers, stabilizer wire mounts, etc.) for IBM keyboards (including Model M 101, M 122, F XT, F AT, F 62, F 107, F 122, various beam springs, etc.).

To begin, although most of us know that Unicomp can be a great source for IBM parts, it is not always obvious which parts they can supply. For example, thanks to a comment made by wcass recently about keycaps for the embedded NumPad in the IBM SSK,

http://deskthority.net/for-sale-f55/xwh ... ed#p170659

I was able to track these down at Unicomp. Here is their reply to my customer service request:

"We can reprint the SSK button set with the embedded numpad. To order use the link below.

http://pckeyboard.com/page/Buttons/CPSET

Enter "1392936 Button Set in Pearl/Pebble"

I hope that this link to a keyset for the embedded NumPad on the IBM SSK will be helpful to our members and that this thread will be useful for the various bits and pieces that people are trying to find for their IBM keyboard restoration projects.

Hmm I wonder if unicomp can do the industrial blue ssk keys. I read somewhere that they did make some of those as replacements back in the late nineties.

I've got some stuff from Fentek in the past.
http://www.fentek-ind.com/keys.htm
Even Unicomp did when they ran out of some colors.

@sero: Don't know about industrial blue SSK keycaps ("buttons" in Unicomp parlance). The thing to do is send them a message via their customer service web page. They respond quickly, usually by the next business day.

@webit: How long ago did you get something from Fentek? What about Hooleon? I contacted each of these companies about a year ago. Now I've forgotten which was which, but one of the companies said that they only had a few items still in stock, and the other was going to get back to me with prices, but they never did.

In the depths of time, 2009 I think. Never done business with Hooleon, but Fentek mentioned them once as having done business with in the past, together with Unicomp. Apparently they were a source once.

There's a person in Japan doing custom dyesub BS caps on Unicomp (afaik) blanks:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DecentKeyboards

Parak wrote: ↑There's a person in Japan doing custom dyesub BS caps on Unicomp (afaik) blanks:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DecentKeyboards

The complete keycap set in the style of a Selectric typewriter just looks great. Not cheap, but lovely!

sero wrote: ↑Hmm I wonder if unicomp can do the industrial blue ssk keys. I read somewhere that they did make some of those as replacements back in the late nineties.

I asked them last week if they could make those blue industrial caps (F1, F2, arrows, etc.), but they can only make caps with existing legends:

Unfortunately we only have the ability to reprint the legends that we use on our standard keyboards. We can't create new legends. That is certainly a technology we would like to have and offer, but don't at this time.

I have some parts from a XT if anyone ever needs them PCB case plate

Parak wrote: ↑There's a person in Japan doing custom dyesub BS caps on Unicomp (afaik) blanks:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DecentKeyboards

Thanks for this link! I had not seen this before. Looks great, although rather expensive.

What we also should mention is that http://www.clickykeyboards.com/ sells keycaps, spare parts like springs, cables, and this blue cube PS/2 converter.

I've ordered recently some caps there, a SDL cable, blue cube converter and some other small parts. The shipping was very fast from USA to Austria / Europe. I think about 9 or 10 days (weekend included).

I don't trust Unicomp to be able to provide keycaps that I can mix & match with original IBM caps.

Just look at the_beast's picture:

I agree unicomps printing leaves allot to be desired

I was a little disappointed when I got my caps from them, most where passable but the F keys i ordered where terrible.

It also appears to be quite random if unicomp does a 1 part key or a 2 part. for example the windows key and the print insert and so on where 1 part but the F keys and escape as well as the few number pad keys where 2 part. Reason i bring it up was the ones printed on 1 part caps where better printing than the ones on the 2 part caps, I don't know if this is due to the windows key tooling being newer than the other ones like Esc but i am not sure.

I guess we cannot be too harsh at least they still make the caps for IBM stuff.

and on a personal note i am glad they fit the model F .

madhias wrote: ↑What we also should mention is that http://www.clickykeyboards.com/ sells keycaps, spare parts like springs, cables, and this blue cube PS/2 converter.

I've ordered recently some caps there, a SDL cable, blue cube converter and some other small parts. The shipping was very fast from USA to Austria / Europe. I think about 9 or 10 days (weekend included).

Yes, indeed, clickykeyboards.com has long been one of the best, most reliable, and trustworthy sources, particularly for Model M boards and parts. Unfortunately, I have heard that they are winding down and might close up shop in the not too distant future. We shall see.

The printing quality of the Unicomp caps is indeed not good, they look a little bit like those lasered WASD keycaps. I made some comparison pictures posted in the Unicomp Model M Keycap Colors thread.

Hypersphere wrote: ↑

madhias wrote: ↑Unfortunately, I have heard that they are winding down and might close up shop in the not too distant future. We shall see.

Interesting to know! I'm wondering since they/he/she always posting new additions to the store. I'm gonna order more replacement caps then there, since they seem to be original ones, and you never know when you need one.

madhias wrote: ↑The printing quality of the Unicomp caps is indeed not good, they look a little bit like those lasered WASD keycaps. I made some comparison pictures posted in the Unicomp Model M Keycap Colors thread.

Hypersphere wrote: ↑

madhias wrote: ↑Unfortunately, I have heard that they are winding down and might close up shop in the not too distant future. We shall see.

Interesting to know! I'm wondering since they/he/she always posting new additions to the store. I'm gonna order more replacement caps then there, since they seem to be original ones, and you never know when you need one.

Sometimes there are good deals on eBay for lots of 2 to 10 or so keyboards that could be used for keycaps and other parts. A few months ago, I saw a listing for 8 122-key Model M keyboards for around 130 USD for the lot.

Hello there, just got my first F AT. Any idea where i could get some barrel frames and hammer assembly?

Plannig to do m spacebar mod + extra keys.

I am getting all the caps and spacebars from original M and F keyboards listed this week.
https://www.elecshopper.com/keycaps/ibm.html Please look in the categories on the left for individual caps. 1-part caps are $2, and 2-part caps with the stem are $1. A few hard to find caps will be priced higher.