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Steampunk Keyboard Mod

steampunkworkshop.com — Gorgeous Steampunk style keyboard mod made with an IBM Model M keyboard, brass plate, and the keys from two old typewriters.

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  • inkspeak, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Instructables also has an interesting tutorial on doing something similar. Their result leaves the typewriter chassis in place though.

    http://www.instructables.com/id/ECJT5B4Z47EV2Z5CV6

    I'm torn between the slick look of the Steampunk Keyboard mod and the true typewriter mod. Shiny vs. tactile!?
  • jiub, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Beautiful mod, although i would have wanted the finished piece to be a bit more uniform. Lots of different styles of keys. Some white backgrounds, some beige (?) on the number pad, and the buttons (F keys) have a gold rim instead of the silver on the rest of the keyboard. If I was going to go through that much effort I would have tracked down some additional keys from the same model typewriter.

    The point is though, he went through the effort and I didn't. Amazing work.
    • qwertydvorak, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0ever try tracking down old typewriters ? let alone the cost of them. they are getting harder to find and more expensive with all of the jewelry being made from the keys nowadays.
    • GhostFreeman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I would have gone all the way and made the keys out of pressed brass.
  • 9mmCensor, on 10/12/2007, -10/+1More useful that this... http://anonweblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/cyberpunk-laptop.html
  • febryle, on 11/05/2007, -6/+2Fantastic. Now if it only had OLED keys. :)
  • z0l0pht, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3I just love my model m
  • Haroshia, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Finally, a keyboard worthy of playing Arcanum on.

  • tinybot2k, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I agree with maxcantor... this keyboard reminds me of the retro keyboard used on the futuristic tv show "Max Headroom" (anyone remember that?) which tried to achieve a look of "scavenging" from a junk heap to create new, modern technologies. Excellent work. Very impressive look.
  • SLYK, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1i'm curious why he covered the front and back of the keyboard *after* he put the keys on....wouldn't you have done it before?? it woulda been a lot easier
  • Otto, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6It's cool, but I like the ElectriClerk more:
    http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/the_electriclerk.html
    • demesisx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1ditto
    • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8A working 1988 Mac doesn't need Victorian styling to come across as an antique.
  • binaryspiral, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2That is an awesome looking keyboard - bar none better than anything else I've seen in a long time.

    I wonder if. ergonomically. its as good as the original keyboard?
  • NinjaBoy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6This makes me want to do an entire computer/desk/keyboard/mouse mod.
  • seandfeeney, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1looks kool, definitely unique, but I would hate to type on that thing.

    There is a reason they left that style back in the old days.
  • D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3Anyone else follow the article having no idea what a "steampunk" was?
    • EbilPhish, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Knowing things is what Wikipedia is for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk

      Nice keyboard, but a bit to shiny for the effect. I would have gone with a rusted iron backboard/frame and done something with that shiny shiny black cable
    • MasterRex, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1 Yes. You are not alone.
    • CryingWolf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The movie Brazil is a good one to look at steampunk used in technology. To bad Wikipedia doesn't mention the movie in it's page about steampunk.

    • guibom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@CryingWolf

      I wouldn't call Terry Gilliam's Brazil a Steampunk world. It's much closer to a Cyberpunk kind of world.
      But that being said, it's a great movie.
  • foxmajik, on 10/12/2007, -27/+1Dugg down for duplicate.

    http://digg.com/gadgets/Beautiful_Steam_Punk_Laptop
    • MasterRex, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6It's not a duplicate. It's an entirely different mod. Dugg down for illiteracy.
    • seattle98104, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It's about a keyboard, not a laptop, you idiot.
  • eightyd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Totally awesome. I want one desperately.
  • MasterRex, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0 It's an interesting mod; that's for certain. I just don't like/appreciate 'retro-tech' that goes more 'retro' than 'tech'.
  • SilverBack101, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Mmmm. Now THAT I would buy! Someone make a complete mod out of a PC, monitor, mouse and cables!
  • bbgun22, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0Why do you guys keep showing all these Macs?
  • mJidoesDIGG, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1In a way that is cool, but honestly why would you ever need that?
  • Antebios, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2I'd buy that for a dollar!!!
  • JohnnyHuh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2That is superb and cool and I really want one badly!
  • uberchaoslord, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk
  • SteveDeGroof, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Nice. He needs to do something about the cord, though. Should be straight and have some sort of woven covering like an old power cord. Not that I'd complain if somone gave one of these, of course.
  • Zoplax, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Take away the TEAM and they still have SPUNK.
  • menuhin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Looks really cool~!!! Why none of the modern keyboard design can be as romantic (yet adequately useful) as this one?
  • wehe00, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0See Repair4Keyboard http://repair4keyboard.org/ for a complete (almost) survey of keyboard modding guides.
  • canux, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0If you are going to attempt this mod and you are looking for a buckling spring keyboard you can buy a shiny new one on-line at:

    http://www.pckeyboard.com/

    I have purchased two BS keyboards from them in the past and can attest to their legitimacy.
  • Razeiel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Absolutely brilliant. I had to sign up for an account so I could Dig this. Masterpiece, absolutely a masterpiece.
  • Elvoret, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0heh...phenomenal...simply phenomenal...

    I now have a work in progress emulating this project with an exception.

    Removed the wireless components from a Logitech wireless keyboard and working on incorporating this in the final design of the Steampunk Keyboard...

    Once again, phenomenal stuff...Kinda reminds me of the Enigma machine from the Medal of Honor series of games :P

  • johnrhaney, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Truely amazing. I'm awe struck. Now someone needs to redo a processor into IBM unit record equipment.
  • SweetMercury, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Awesome keyboard.

    Is there any way the world can come to a consensus and stop using the word "steampunk," though? I don't think it's a term one can use without sounding like a complete poser.
  • Darksaber11, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1When I first saw this headline, I thought "This is cool, but I'd never want one." but now that's I've seen it I'm totally envious.
  • iSocket, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Almost as good as the Optimus keyboard.
  • Frukathka, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Too damn cool for words!
  • sarahmaddelson, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I can't believe it! I've heard about this month ago, but I can't remember where exactly.
  • cayennenator, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Thanks! I couldn't see any graphics in IE7 or FF.
  • Majician, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1My hats off to the man....It seems like a LOT of hours was put into making that.....As I sit here typing on my piddly Tarantula keyboard....Good Job.....I'd like to see what he could do to a 42" LCD.
  • thatguykevin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Sooooo. I did my own. Here's the link to the pics. I matched my monitor, mouse, and computer. Check it. click the "pimp your computer" SET
    Flickr.com/photos/photos_4_fun Peace!
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