deskthority

A while ago I got a Compaq Portable I, however the keyboard they used is a (quite horrible) keytronic-made Foam-and-Foil keyboard. Unfortunately, after 28 years, a good amount of the foam has rotted to either not being tall enough to make contact or don't decompress after a keystroke.

I'm curious to know if anyone is familiar with this type of key switch, as I'm not sure what the foil is used on the foam, I've heard mylar but I haven't found anything to prove for sure. I'm also interested in knowing if there's anywhere to get replacement disks, as I assume Keytronic also made other boards using the same switch, it would be odd for a large company to make a one-time setup.

And for the final question, has anyone ever used double sided foam tape and foil disks as a replacement for this type of switch? As odd as the idea sounds, double sided foam tape is a lot easier to find than disks or a tool to punch my own disks.

I think that I could have Key Tronic foam and foil sliders, where the foam still has not deteriorated.
However, the parts are packed away, it is quite a bit past midnight over here and I really have to go to bed and I will be busy in the morning. I will post pictures of what I have, but you will have to wait a day.

Does this seem like the same kind of switch? Mine have rubber sleeves, but I know that there are also Key Tronic foam-and-foil switches with coiled springs.
If yes, then let me know how many you need and I'll send you a quote for postage.

Nope, not quite the same. Give me a couple minutes and I can get some pictures, it's quite a stupid setup.

Hmm.. I just noticed something I had not seen before: the foam pads are not glued on, they have a sheet of plastic on the opposite of the mylar, that are snapped in place on the sliders. 11 mm in diameter, 4.5 mm thick.

That actually looks to be the same now that I take one of the switches apart, only mine's using a spring rather than a rubber dome.

BTW, I don't know how my sliders have acquired a blue tint. I think they must have done that while sitting in the zip-lock bag that I have stored them in.
I don't think that I have 101 sliders. I am sure that I must have lost a few.

ne0phyte wrote:http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 1041111410

Heh, those cost $73 + postage and here I am about to give mine away for free ...
Just be prepared that international postage from Sweden can be a bit costly, though.

Tjena, findercanor. I'm also looking for some foam. And I live in norway. I'm planning on using them for a rare old tandberg data terminal, and then maybe donate it to a museum or something.

Hello all,

if you are looking for the foam pads you can find it here:

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... _987wt_900

soldier