Rebuilding a Triumph Adler SE 1040

[DirkSonguer]

Hi there!

The Triumph Adler SE 1040 was a typewriter setup from the mid to late 1980s, consisting of an external keyboard & control unit and a daisy wheel printer unit.

I managed to grab two keyboard units for cheap off Ebay. My initial idea was to re-use the keycaps, which are nice and thick, black, low-profile double-shot ABS with MX compatible mount. But when the boards arrived, I thought I might try and rebuild them in some way, either by trying some form of conversion (re-using some of the components), or completely replacing the interior with modern tech.

I will document the journey here: https://github.com/DirkSonguer/keyboard-TA-SE-1040

Wish me luck. Let me know if you have experience with this keyboard that you want to share. And feel free to drop me any questions along the way!

Some pics:

TA-SE-1040-front.jpg (1.12 MiB) Viewed 1430 times

TA-SE-1040-keycaps.jpg (2.45 MiB) Viewed 1430 times

TA-SE-1040-switches.jpg (2.6 MiB) Viewed 1430 times

[TNT]

That's beautiful! Any plans for what you gonna do with the left row and of all those intriguing indicator lights?

Really nice that it already comes with a usable case. Some high profile, spherical keycaps might look really great on that one.
Also, you gonna put a modern screen underneath that big flap at the top instead of the VFD one? Looking forward to what you have in mind with this, really cool project!

[Muirium]

The world needs more VFD.

[TNT]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clUVEyi_YNM

[kbdfr]

[…] Some high profile, spherical keycaps might look really great on that one. […]

I would on the contrary absolutely want to preserve the looks of this keyboard,

[TNT]

Understandable, since the legends and looks are quite unique. For me personally, I've never been a fan of those island style - "spherical"- keycaps with just the dimple on top. But it's not for me to decide anyways

[DirkSonguer]

That's beautiful! Any plans for what you gonna do with the left row and of all those intriguing indicator lights?

Not yet. One option I'm looking into is controlling the backlighting with it, being able to cycle through different options. Maybe add a solenoid and beeper and then use them? Media controls? OPTIONS!

Understandable, since the legends and looks are quite unique. For me personally, I've never been a fan of those island style - "spherical"- keycaps with just the dimple on top. But it's not for me to decide anyways

Yeah, they take some time to get used to, but contrary to other "dimple keycaps" these are angled at around 4°.

TA-SE-1040-keycaps-details.jpg (297.7 KiB) Viewed 1137 times

[TNT]

Oh sweet! That's definitely a plus