deskthority

Hi friends,

while going through my fathers old storage unit I found an old DIGILAB 750 BIOLAB keyboard. (see pic)

I bought a 5 pin DIN to PS2 adapter and a PS2 to USB adapter. I turned off my PC and attached the keyboard to the computer and then turned on the computer.

I am surprised it didn't work but surely you wizards must know something I don't to get this to work.

I am trying to use this old, 10lb keyboard with a Microsoft Surface Laptop 3.

Thank you for any help.

It will be XT. Same connector but electronically incompatible with AT (or PS2). You will need an XT converter, such as Soarer’s.

The keyboard is actually an IBM Model F XT. Worth well north of $100 if you want to sell it. Prized for their feel.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-XT-AT-to ... 632-2357-0

This does the job nicely (or if you message Orihalcon directly on here you might save a little bit on the price). Or you can make your own - there must be a thread on this somewhere. But Orihalcon’s are very neat and worth the price if you lack the inclination to buy separate parts and tinker about.

TMK is another options for converting XT. Has instructions for building your own that apply to both TMK and Soarer's.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=103648.0

Thank you for the very very helpful replies. I am going to simply purchase one from Orihalcon and return the two adapters I have now.

Really great community you all must have to be so helpful. Again I really appreciate the help.

You just stumbled upon one of the greatest keyboards of all time The IBM Model F keyboard that originally came with the IBM PC starting back in 1981.

Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_F_keyboard
Muirium gave the corresponding link to our own little wiki a few posts back

Edit: Since you're based in Kentucky, I thought I'd add that this keyboard uses IBM's famous buckling spring mechanism. Incidentally, keyboards using this mechanism are still being made in Lexington, Kentucky at Unicomp: https://www.pckeyboard.com/
(The version of the buckling spring technology used in Unicomp's keyboards is the one originally found in the slightly later IBM Model M keyboard, but that's all details)

The Digilab is legend! (Well, the keyboard that badge is attached to is legend.)

Bjerrk wrote: ↑

23 Feb 2022, 07:23

You just stumbled upon one of the greatest keyboards of all time The IBM Model F keyboard that originally came with the IBM PC starting back in 1981.

Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_F_keyboard
Muirium gave the corresponding link to our own little wiki a few posts back

Edit: Since you're based in Kentucky, I thought I'd add that this keyboard uses IBM's famous buckling spring mechanism. Incidentally, keyboards using this mechanism are still being made in Lexington, Kentucky at Unicomp: https://www.pckeyboard.com/
(The version of the buckling spring technology used in Unicomp's keyboards is the one originally found in the slightly later IBM Model M keyboard, but that's all details)

I took everyone's advice and bought Orihalcons adapter. It works great. The keyboard has worked great.

However all of a sudden my comma key does not work. I may have spilled something on the keyboard earlier but it would only be a very small amount. Could this be the cause? I tried unplugging the adapter and whatnot and nothing.

This keyboard is fantastic and I dont want to be without a comma key. Thank you for being so helpful and friendly!

Watch some videos on how to pull IBM buckling spring caps. (Your keyboard is Model F, but the more common Model M works the same way.) Try pulling and reinserting the comma key in question. That alone may just do the trick.

The next stage beyond that is the “chopstick method”. Similar strategy: watch how tos before you try it. It lets you re-seat the spring which may well work, too. But again no guarantees.

A spill might just take some time to dry out in there. Be glad it’s a Model F. No impossible-to-dry membranes inside!

As an aside, a little fun information about this keyboard:

Bio-rad is a respected laboratory equipment manufacturer many lab rats are familiar with; they make anything from PCR machines to FTIR spectrometer, which the digilab division seems to produce.

I’ve used wayyyyy too many bio-rad products but never the FTIR spec. Rare and great find .