Steampunk IBM keyboard mod

Sick of living in the post-industrial present? Long for an alternate universe where steam trumps electricity? Well, unfortunately, while we can't offer you a complete transfer from the land of "the now" into a steampunk universe, we can show you a way to make it feel like Queen Victoria and the era she represented lasted until the ripe old age of 170. Full instructions for how to convert a 1980s era "clicky" IBM keyboard into an input device that would look at home in a movie adaptation of a Jules Verne novel are available on The Steampunk Workshop: just add a steampunk laptop and you're set. Honestly, if there was one keyboard that could give the Optimus 103 a run for its money in a "coolness" face-off, this would be it. Then again, we always were suckers for mixing retro with modern.

[Via Digg]

[tchiseen @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:01AM]

that is SO HOT. optimus 103 has nothing on the coolness of this kb.

i really really want one.

im look in ebay for old typewriters now. what a great mod.

[James Dehnert Sr @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:56AM]

Wish I had those skills! Hey! think limited production, I's pay for one. You do need to change the coiled cord out for a USB cord hidden with the old style cloth covering.

[Spalooga @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:05AM]

Looks pretty sick, but it probly wouldn't be the short of bling i'd bring to a LAN party to show it off...

[matt @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:14AM]

Looks wicked sweet, but that felt backing looks like it would get crusty kinda fast. Maybe some leather or lacquered wood?

[Tech^Cellfish @ Feb 23rd 2007 3:35AM]

Very nice keyboard, looks really good. Good pictures and videos of the mod. Thanks a lot for posting this

[Mischa Lockton @ Feb 23rd 2007 6:27AM]

For that Holocausty feeling, there's nothing like an IBM typewriter.

[John H. @ Feb 23rd 2007 7:56AM]

That's pretty awesome. I'd buy one.

[James Whited @ Feb 23rd 2007 8:20AM]

Nice, looks like you engadgeted the site however. I would love to see this done for a Mac, and maybe theme out an entire Mac then. Or switch it up a bit for a Soviet Russian Steampunk-esque theme. That would kill.

[James Whited @ Feb 23rd 2007 8:20AM]

Nice, looks like you engadgeted the site however. I would love to see this done for a Mac, and maybe theme out an entire Mac then. Or switch it up a bit for a Soviet Russian Steampunk-esque theme. That would kill.

[GT @ Feb 23rd 2007 8:40AM]

I like it alot!

[Kevin Breit @ Feb 23rd 2007 9:25AM]

As someone who still uses a typewriter (actually two), I love this. I don't have the motivation or skills to do this change, but it looks great and I'd love to be able to purchase something like this for a reasonable price. I however, am not sure I want to kill a perfectly good typewriter though.

[mj @ Feb 23rd 2007 9:47AM]

Awesome, bAby with A cApitAl A!

[JBo @ Feb 23rd 2007 10:44AM]

Ahhh the sweet sound of clicky keyboards in the computer lab at 3am frantically writing last minute papers. Notes on one side, adulterated soda on the other. Good times.

[James @ Feb 23rd 2007 10:48AM]

Yay for Model M!

[John @ Feb 23rd 2007 11:13AM]

That is a beautiful keyboard. Makes the ones I use look like utilitarian pieces of crap in comparison.

[oxfdblue @ Feb 23rd 2007 12:04PM]

I believe it was the show Max Headroom where they melded hi-tech with all sorts of old looking devices. Reminds me of that. I wish his website would work so I can get a good look at the build process.

[KazO @ Feb 23rd 2007 4:20PM]

That's sweet! I'm a big fan of the donor keyboard (I'm typing this a ca.1990 Model M now). So this thing should be as sturdy as it looks, and has an old-school keyfeel and sound to boot.

I'm using this ModelM (I keep a whole stash of em, heh) with a USB adapter, and I've seen mods where a USB adapter was built into one, so aside from it not having nay of the modern, special keys, it should be totally Mac-able too.