Search found 49 matches

by twasa
19 Mar 2021, 16:12
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Why are you into keyboards?
Replies: 42
Views: 6247

Re: Why are you into keyboards?

I haven't thought about it much before, except that I generally have an interest in older technology, such as fountain pens, letterpress printing and vintage mechanical keyboards. I dream of owning a vintage Heidelberg letterpress machine, but probably never will. I only realized now, when reading i...
by twasa
02 Sep 2020, 16:55
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Model F Technical Manual Project
Replies: 173
Views: 49652

Re: Model F Technical Manual Project

This is such a great project. I've been meaning to offer my help if proofreading could be of any assistance.
by twasa
19 Aug 2019, 17:46
Forum: News
Topic: A look back: The Bloomberg Keyboard
Replies: 2
Views: 8785

Re: A look back: The Bloomberg Keyboard

Chiclets (turtles) all the way down to the early eighties? A bit depressing despite the good looking keyboards.
by twasa
14 Aug 2019, 16:43
Forum: Marketplace Help
Topic: Price Check: How much is my _____ worth?
Replies: 4744
Views: 1321649

Re: Price Check: How much is my _____ worth?

karlmartin95 wrote:
14 Aug 2019, 05:17
How much an IBM 3178 Keyboard cost?

Orihalcon had some for sale about a year ago for $100, see: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=19095
by twasa
20 Jun 2019, 16:47
Forum: Workshop
Topic: Looking for an IBM 3178 Maintenance Manual
Replies: 5
Views: 1991

Re: Looking for an IBM 3178 Maintenance Manual

I'd certainly appreciate that too Redmaus.
by twasa
06 May 2019, 17:47
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: IBM XKB-3 186-146 Rev D1
Replies: 7
Views: 2527

Re: IBM XKB-3 186-146 Rev D1

I'll have to check again whether it is properly grounded. I sort of just gave up on it, thinking that that is the price of ignorance.
by twasa
06 May 2019, 17:32
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: IBM XKB-3 186-146 Rev D1
Replies: 7
Views: 2527

Re: IBM XKB-3 186-146 Rev D1

I tried it with one of Orihalcon's XT converter cables and none of the keys corresponded with what keystroke was received. Would that be caused by the modifications and would it be fixed if the extra grounding parts were removed?
by twasa
06 May 2019, 17:00
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: IBM XKB-3 186-146 Rev D1
Replies: 7
Views: 2527

Re: IBM XKB-3 186-146 Rev D1

I also got an "XKB-3" from the same seller last year. At the time I wasn't even aware that such modifications existed. Can it be undone, or is the only option an xwhatsit controller replacement?
by twasa
26 Mar 2019, 16:53
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Have help with the IBM 3178 keyboard converter?
Replies: 5
Views: 2276

Re: Have help with the IBM 3178 keyboard converter?

You're probably thinking of Sangdrax's post: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=19788
by twasa
05 Mar 2019, 16:31
Forum: Other external
Topic: Great/Interesting Finds
Replies: 26261
Views: 6046582

Re: Great/Interesting Finds

No, looks like one of the Japanese 5576 keyboards, possibly a 5576-A01, although I am no expert.

http://ps-2.kev009.com/sandy55/5576/5576.html

There's also this thread by snacksthecat of the restoration of a 5576 in the gallery: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=21171
by twasa
27 Feb 2019, 17:18
Forum: Other
Topic: [Giveaway] The Boneshaker (NMB PC-122)
Replies: 65
Views: 101830

Re: [Giveaway] The Boneshaker (NMB PC-122)

I've never seen any space invaders over here, especially not the cursed kind. A beautiful board. I'd just hope that it goes to someone closer, since shipping anything large or heavy here is quite costly.
by twasa
19 Feb 2019, 18:37
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: What's Wrong with a Thrift Shop?
Replies: 16
Views: 4900

Re: What's Wrong with a Thrift Shop?

I always thought that being in Africa sucked for finding any mechanical keyboards. We have a charity shop walking distance from home, where I found two model M's in a week, as well as some white Alps boards. They sold for next to nothing, so perhaps I should be more optimistic that I'll find a blue ...
by twasa
03 Feb 2019, 17:15
Forum: Workshop
Topic: 1984 IBM 3178 Model C2 USB conversion with solenoid
Replies: 14
Views: 7680

Re: 1984 IBM 3178 Model C2 USB conversion with solenoid

I also have my work cut out, but thankfully also with the assistance of orihalcon, I should be able to restore it. The foam is shot though, it just disintegrated when I removed it. Cleaned up what I've got so far and hoping to have the barrel plate sandblasted and powder coated in the coming week. 3...
by twasa
22 Jan 2019, 20:01
Forum: Workshop
Topic: Cleaning a plate without removing switches
Replies: 20
Views: 8020

Re: Cleaning a plate without removing switches

You can. I use an Imperial 1/16" drill bit which is just a tiny bit undersized for a 2mm screw, but it cuts it way into the plastic very nicely. It is even possible/easy to do a "screw mod" with a 1/16" drill bit and 2mm screw and no nut at all, for example in that first row below the space bar whe...
by twasa
20 Jan 2019, 16:33
Forum: Workshop
Topic: Cleaning a plate without removing switches
Replies: 20
Views: 8020

Re: Cleaning a plate without removing switches

I use M2 machine screws which have a shaft diameter of 2mm. Thanks fohat. I have the M2 screws and nuts. Mine have a hexagonal depression in the head, so I'll have to get an allan key that fits. I'm looking for a 4mm nut driver or socket here. Does one use a 2mm drill bit for the holes in the barre...
by twasa
17 Jan 2019, 19:10
Forum: Workshop
Topic: Cleaning a plate without removing switches
Replies: 20
Views: 8020

Re: Cleaning a plate without removing switches

Thanks fohat, I have a small enough phillips screw driver, but don't even know what size socket would fit the nuts. It looks like something like 2mm, but it would not be generally available over here at least.
by twasa
17 Jan 2019, 18:55
Forum: Workshop
Topic: Cleaning a plate without removing switches
Replies: 20
Views: 8020

Re: Cleaning a plate without removing switches

As a relative novice, I really find Hypersphere's post useful. Although the forum probably has all the answers one may be looking for, finding the right post depends on selection of keywords to get there. I wish we had a sort of "recipe" topic, with a parts list, e.g. what parts and which tools are ...
by twasa
16 Jan 2019, 18:07
Forum: Other external
Topic: Great/Interesting Finds
Replies: 26261
Views: 6046582

Re: Great/Interesting Finds

Thanks Muirium, that makes sense. Although I would expect that one can ameliorate some of the strangeness with key remapping (to a point).
by twasa
16 Jan 2019, 17:32
Forum: Other external
Topic: Great/Interesting Finds
Replies: 26261
Views: 6046582

Re: Great/Interesting Finds

swampangel wrote:
16 Jan 2019, 16:56
Model F AT for $225 USD
I'm too new at this to know, but why are AT model F's somehow more desirable (and expensive) then XT ones?
by twasa
16 Jan 2019, 16:49
Forum: Other external
Topic: Great/Interesting Finds
Replies: 26261
Views: 6046582

Re: Great/Interesting Finds

Not a great find necessarily, but cheap from the local charity shop up my street: $ 3.74 for the three at the current exchange rate.

Two NTC boards and one Ortek MCK-101FX. All appear to have either white alps or clones. The NTC with the diagonal navigation keys seems peculiar.

IMG_0512.jpg
IMG_0512.jpg (2.02 MiB) Viewed 7225 times
by twasa
09 Jan 2019, 19:02
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: IBM beam spring and vintage computing prices in general - speculators?
Replies: 23
Views: 12063

Re: IBM beam spring and vintage computing prices in general - speculators?

I agree that the thread is an interesting read. I'm also wondering about the growth in people interested in vintage keyboards over time. With sites like this and youtube channels like Chryrosran's, more people are introduced to the pleasure of using vintage keyboards and demand grows. With growth in...
by twasa
06 Jan 2019, 17:24
Forum: Want to buy
Topic: Buckling spring keyboards
Replies: 27
Views: 5511

Non-expert opinion this, but I think a model M is a great start. They're easily available, with clean ones going for a decent price if one must buy them. They're often just found.
by twasa
05 Jan 2019, 12:33
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to use a Pro Micro as a cheap controller/converter
Replies: 339
Views: 214406

Thanks mxgian99. I tried that with the same result. hid_listen does not register any key press. I'll check the wiring to the pro micro again.
by twasa
03 Jan 2019, 20:02
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to use a Pro Micro as a cheap controller/converter
Replies: 339
Views: 214406

@Darkshado, that's what I was expecting too. I am stumped, since I don't know why the board gets identified as code set 1, which I suspect is why I don't get any keys to register.
by twasa
02 Jan 2019, 18:18
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to use a Pro Micro as a cheap controller/converter
Replies: 339
Views: 214406

I'm using the converter I believe (Soarer_at2usb_v1.12_atmega32u4.hex). Good for you St0ckz, I'm hoping to also get this to work, without knowing enough yet about what I'm doing. :D
by twasa
02 Jan 2019, 17:53
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to use a Pro Micro as a cheap controller/converter
Replies: 339
Views: 214406

Thanks for the detailed reply. Adding the Soarer tools folder to the path, allows one to address the contents of the folder from any other folder. I'm ok with the command line and don't really need that to execute the Soarer tools. I was under the impression that there is a default key mapping when ...
by twasa
02 Jan 2019, 17:23
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to use a Pro Micro as a cheap controller/converter
Replies: 339
Views: 214406

@St0ckz: So far, I have flashed the Soarer hex file to the pro micro and then soldered the wires as you said I should. The original cable of the keyboard was forcibly removed, leaving behind the little black connection box that connects the cable to the pins on the pcb. I soldered the wires that rem...
by twasa
02 Jan 2019, 17:08
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to use a Pro Micro as a cheap controller/converter
Replies: 339
Views: 214406

@Hypershere No I haven't. I thought those were only needed when one uses a long cable. I'm testing with a very short one.
by twasa
02 Jan 2019, 16:59
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to use a Pro Micro as a cheap controller/converter
Replies: 339
Views: 214406

@Hypershere Yes, the loading of the hex file was my first hurdle. I checked the wires that I soldered to the pro micro and they correspond to the advice St0ckz gave.
by twasa
02 Jan 2019, 16:03
Forum: Workshop
Topic: How to use a Pro Micro as a cheap controller/converter
Replies: 339
Views: 214406

One step forward, soldering the wires to the pro micro successful. Fired up hid_listen: Waiting for device:.... I connect the keyboard to a usb port: Listening: wEE remaining: FFFC Keyboard ID: 0000 Code Set: 1 Mode: PC/XT R05 And then nothing happens when I press a key on the keyboard. Any suggesti...

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