Arnuphis Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Is there a good source of NoS or refurb keyboards for the TI-99/4a? Looking for a black non-Mitsumi one. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 I don't know of anyone with any NOS stuff right now other than a few eBay listings that show up now and again. I will note something though: there are also black Mitsumi keyboards. . .about the only way to be sure a keyboard isn't from Mitsumi is to look for a bazillion solder points on the bottom of the keyboard (several for each keyswitch). The Mitsumi boards are mostly smooth, as they used a keyboard membrane. About ten years ago, Richard Bell was trying to get rid of a lot of NOS keyboards by the case for nothing but shipping--and had very few takers. The boxes were all Mitsumi keyboards though. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Is there a good source of NoS or refurb keyboards for the TI-99/4a? Looking for a black non-Mitsumi one. Thanks! Watch ebay, ask for pictures of the back of them if they aren't posted If it's solid pcb without solder points at each key location, don't buy it.. I haven't seen a black one in a while, lots of beige tho bought two or three spares in the last year that way. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arnuphis Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Good advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dphirschler Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Yeah, the Mitsumis can be identified by a smooth brown colored back. The green ones with solder points are good. You can usually see enough of the keyboard through the vent holes if there is a halfway decent shot of the underside of the console. Darryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iKarith Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 I saw recently mention that the black Mitsumi keyboards had square keys--is that not necessarily the case though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 The black Mitsumi keyboards have squarish posts with keytops that are almost impossible to remove without damaging them (I was just looking at one that I fished out of a spare parts box this past weekend). The other brands with square posts have a nice green square insert that moves up and down with a set of gold fingers inside. These keyboards are great, as you can spray them with contact cleaner to stop them from double-tripping or not tripping at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jedimatt42 Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 I have a dud of a mitsumi keyboard, and just noticed that the letter O on the keycap is pretty distinctive also. Very rectangular with rounded top and bottom, like a circle cut in half, with straight lines joining the halves. My other 2 keyboards have continuously curving oval O's. (Ohs) Another question: is a non functional mitsumi just trash, or can they be reconditioned? -M@ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 The Mitsumi's were membrane keyboards. You could probably design a new membrane for them--but that would be a lot of trouble for not much gain, I think. The keytops are usable on a few of the other keyboard types IIRC, so not all is a loss there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jedimatt42 Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 The Mitsumi's were membrane keyboards. You could probably design a new membrane for them--but that would be a lot of trouble for not much gain, I think. The keytops are usable on a few of the other keyboard types IIRC, so not all is a loss there. Maybe I'll take it apart and "behold the bowels of mitsumi and their cargo." Doesn't sound like a real loss if I cause epic damage -M@ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Nobody will be too upset, and if they are, I have a box of them too. (I'm one of the few takers mentioned way above.) None of the keyboards I've taken out of the box have worked well, if at all. It's almost certainly just a corrosion or contamination issue... there probably is a way to clean the contacts. But they'll just eventually go again. The keyswitch ones last nearly forever. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Wonder if this would help: http://www.iflscience.com/technology/you-can-draw-electrical-circuits-with-this-silver-pen/ draw over the conductive surfaces and 'revive' it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jedimatt42 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Wonder if this would help: http://www.iflscience.com/technology/you-can-draw-electrical-circuits-with-this-silver-pen/ draw over the conductive surfaces and 'revive' it? I saw some of that on youtube. Made me wonder if it would be less prone to oxidation failure. It is a low priority project. -M@ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arnuphis Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 I ended up getting a "keyswitch" 99/4a for $15 and used the keyboard out of that in my F18a equipped 99/4a. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyDean Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 I have a box full of NOS keyboards, some still wrapped in a light styrofoam wrap, but the caveat is that they were exposed to condensation and a leaky roof in a semi trailer, that I had them stored in, as well as some of they keys being knocked loose in transport from Indiana 17 years ago and shifting in the trailer for 17 years. There is some rust on te rails and cobwebs. I would have to sort through and see what is salvageable.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 If they are anything but Mitsumi keyboards, they will probably work fine once you clean the gunk off of them. . .especially if they are the type with leaf springs in the keys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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