New Steampunk Keyboard Underway

[mbarrick]

Last Saturday I went thrift-store shopping with Elaine and her mom with the intent of buying something to wear to the upcoming Sanctuary White Party. I failed to find anything to wear, but I did happen upon and old cherry-switch keyboard for only $3.50. There aren't many places out there still making cherry-switch keyboards (where each key is an independent switch - most keyboards are made from cheap, one-piece membrane), and they cost at least $80 CAD. Vintage ones sell on eBay for $70 - $130. So, score!

It was an "AT" keyboard with a 5-pin DIN connector so it was a snap to convert to PS/2 (and active PS/2 to USB adaptors that don't need drivers can be had for about $20).

I've got a bag of buttons ready and all the other things I need. Time to have a little fun.

Comments

[ladyvermath.livejournal.com]

Very cool I can't wait to see it!

About that cord

[(Anonymous)]

So I was looking at the great keyboard you made last time, and the comments that people left. One thing someone mentioned was the look of the cord when you did the last one. So, I looked up something -
Flexible Metal Tubing. You can order it fairly cheap online, or you can get it from electrical supply houses, or there's a variety of it that's sold at auto supply places. If you slide it over the standard cording, having picked one with a rim at the end, you could put the end into the (probably slightly enlarged) hole where the standard cord enters the body of the keyboard. Then paint it to match the rest, and voila! You've got a great 'old' looking electric connector.

Even if you don't do it, I fully expect to see a beautiful keyboard when you're done!

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