deskthority

The keyboard controller PCB doesn't have any branding, but is labelled KB-82 B48U082-4 JCI N1S. It's powered by a Fujitsu 8051 microcontroller in one of those long DIP packages with a groove down the side which makes me think it's a custom device. There is a parallel connector to the typewriter's ...

I recently got hold of a Xerox 6040 Memorywriter typewriter/word processor. The keyboard is really interesting, very tactile but super smooth and not at all clicky. It seems to be the chunkiest rubberdome I've ever seen with discrete sliders on top, and massive triple-shot keycaps. The mechanism ...

Thanks, I think... I was planning on trying to 3D print a mount to let me retrofit those onto my ZX81, but that's enough for 100! They'll do samples, but only up to 10, and it would cost ~$1 for the switch things and $75 for shipping. I'll have to find a reseller.

Another absurd project these might ...

Back in 2020 or so, TTC made slider-over-membrane key 'switches' which weren't really switches, just discrete slider units with a spring-loaded push pin that stabbed at a membrane. These were used by a few keyboards such as the Xiaomi Yuemi MK03C mechanical-feel keyboard:

https://www.youtube.com ...

Good idea --- image added.

Great, thanks! No wonder I liked it --- I grew up on the Archimedes...

Edit: Taking a look at the back, yes, there is a label with the Matshushita "M" on it. I've updated the wiki page.

I just picked up a Canon Typestar 210 battery-powered thermal typewriter from a local junk shop; it works perfectly, and has a very nice light linear keyboard which is positive and very pleasant to type on. The keycaps are pad-printed cylindrical jobs, sadly, rather than double-shots, but when I ...

I recently just finished a project where I ripped the guts out of an old battery-powered thermal typewriter and converted it into USB keyboard. It came out rather well, if I say so myself, although I do need to find something better to do with the USB cable.

http://cowlark.com/2019-11-03-keyboard ...

I know this is verging on a necropost, but this is directly related to a previous post: I have finished converting the typewriter to USB. There's lots of stuff including video of the whole sordid business here. http://cowlark.com/2019-11-03-keyboard

I'm pretty sure the keyswitches are SMK spring ...

Hello,

I recently picked up a Canon TypeStar 4 typewriter in a junk shop. The keyboard is really nice, linear and light but tactile, and I am amusing myself by refitting the keyboard as a PC USB keyboard.

The keys are discrete integrated slider-over-spring-over-conductive rubber dome-over-PCB ...

Yup, just too loud. I kinda quite like my cow orkers.

Turns out that a number of these old typewriter keyboards are really good complex rubber dome mechanisms --- the Brother keyboards are apparently very reminiscent of modern Topre, so I'm going to try and retrofit one.

I've just acquired one of these typewriters, and rather incompetently demoed it on video if you want to see it in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42fLdTLuYj0

I really like the keyboard, and am rather interested in converting it to USB and using it as a PC keyboard (I'm not allowed to use ...