Re: Apple /// keyboard

[A2Aviator <a2aviator@gmail.com>]

No foam, it's all hard plastic components and copper contacts inside
the individual key switches.

The earlier //e, Mac 128/512/Plus keyboards are all the same.

There's four different main types of switches across the Apple
products that have individual switches.

Sorry I don't have the brands/part numbers handy, but:

The original one thats in some ][ Plus, earlier //e and Mac keyboards
is a black base with thin slightly T shaped stem.
The midrange ones where it's a black base and round shaft and then the
IIgs, ADB keyboards, where it was a black base and usually an orange
inset rectangular point where the key cap inserted.
Then there is the //c that has either the kind used on the ADB/IIgs if
it's a later model, metal backed keyboard - or the ones that are
unique to the //c only, those big square black things with the white
cross shaped shafts.

They're not interchangeable with each of the other types, but they are
all interchangeable amongst themselves.

I used to keep any Apple keyboard that was serviceable back in the day
and use them if for nothing else, spare switches, and at one time even
had things setup to replace every switch as we had ample supply of
each of the switch kinds.

Unless it was glue or acidic like, there was not a keyboard that I
didn't at least recover 90% of the functionality from liquid spills,
coffee, soda, etc.  Denatured alcohol, a pan and put the assembly in
it minus the key caps which themselves went into a solution of Simple
Green or Oil Eater inside of a double bin thing with a 4 inch fan
sandwiched in between the bins.

The fan would have nuts attached to one of the blades and an opposite
blade broken out to create an out of balance spinner. Placing this in
between the bins meant that contact was made to the bottom of the one
that had the cleaner solution in it - thus agitating the liquid. This
also worked for keyboards too.

Two of these containers:
http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/images/product/3c87_sm.jpg

An off balance fan in the lower one, the fan has hex standoffs in each
of it's mounting holes creating a 1/4 gap above and below it, allowing
room for the bolt that is inserted in the fin to spin around, and the
four points transfer the energy to the top bin with the liquid in it.
A couple hours in there and they look good as new.

Any worries about overheating and burning up the fan? .. first thing
it's gonna do is melt the plastic bucket full of liquid and thats
going to put out anything.  In 10 years I never had a problem. ;-)

You can also tie a knot in a sock and toss the key caps into it, put
it in the laundry.