[GreenKeys] Model 15 keyboard question

[E.]

You sir, have a fractions keyboard!  Somewhere along the line, either the typing basket or the keyboard was replaced.  Look inside the 15 and if you see other Bell labels, then it was probably the basket that was swapped out.  Not sure why the blank key isn’t there - I suppose it’s possible that it was removed, but I don’t know why.  As for your questions - I know others probably have more knowledge than me, but:…

1 - I wouldn’t worry too much about the blank key, but Mr. RTTY might have a replacement - maybe.  Look to see if there’s a slot for it - like mentioned above, it may have been removed.  If it was, then hopefully everything else connected to that key are still inside the keyboard, in order to make everything proper.

2 & 3 - Whatever you can reasonably do to make it right!  Keyboards are hard to find… keys probably easier and keyboards probably more expensive, but if there’s a will, there’s a way ;p !

Also, I’d give your 15’s case a nice, soapy, warm water bath & rinse… and then give it a coat of some 5-20w full synthetic oil.  This will shine up the metal nicely and also protect it from rust, too :) .

Good luck ^^ !


> On May 23, 2020, at 3:50 pm, ad7i <ad7i at ad7i.net> wrote:
> 
> Well, shoot!  I should have included links to the photos and not the photos themselves.
> 
> Sorry about that.  The photos below are linked via Dropbox.  If you are asked to subscribe to dropbox just go to the bottom of
> the nag screen and click "no thanks".  That should take you to the photo.
> 
> 
> My model 15  keyboard :  https://www.dropbox.com/s/hufx5aqm4gzvcqp/tty-15-key-x1200.jpg?dl=0
> 
> My model 15 cabinet:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/kf93zxccniymgjj/m-15-ttyx1200.jpg?dl=0
> 
> Paul, ad7i
> 
> 
> 
> On Sat, May 23, 2020 at 4:18 PM ad7i <ad7i at ad7i.net> wrote:
> Greetings --
> 
> I'd like to ask fellow Greenkeyers for some advice regarding what to do about my Model 15 keyboard (photos pasted at the end of this message).
> 
> Back in about the late 1990s fellow Bell Labs alum John Sheetz K2AGI gave me a very nice Model 15 TTY.  It prints well and I never really paid much attention to the keyboard, other than to determine that it initially worked.  In most all cases I've only used a PC to drive the TTY, operating it pretty much as an RO device.  And now I also use it to print ITTY.
> 
> The cabinet has a placard that indicates Bell System Teletypewriter service.  I don't know if that indicates the heritage of only the cabinet, or perhaps also the typing unit and keyboard.  The typing unit prints all the expected standard punctuation [ . , / ? ; : ' "  ! # $ & (  ) - ] in the expected places.  The typing hammer for J has an apostrophe and FIGS-J prints apostrophe.  The hammer for S also has an apostrophe but FIGS-S rings the bell.  All of that is as I would expect.
> 
> But as you can see from the photos, my keyboard has some oddities.  First, it's missing the blank key all together.  Second, keycaps are missing from FIGS and P.  Third, I have fractions on keys F, K and L, instead of normal punctuation.  I'd like to somehow get the keyboard back to a condition that matches the typing unit.
> 
> So my questions for Greenkey members are:  
> 
> 1.  What should I do about the missing BLANK key?  Was it common to omit the BLANK key from Model 15s?  I tend to do a lot of testing with my TTYs, so a blank key would be handy.  If I had the correct parts is it likely that I could I install the bank key myself?  Is it relatively easy to do?
> 
> 2.  For the missing and fraction keycaps, should I simply replace those keycaps or should I try to find a complete set of all keypads, to give the keyboard a more consistent look?
> 
> 3.  Or would I be better off trying to find a complete replacement model 15 keyboard in order to get things back to normal?
> 
> I'd be grateful for any comments or suggestions you may care to offer
> 
> 73, Paul, ad7i
> 
> 
> 
> <tty-15-key-x1200.jpg>
> 
> 
> 
> <m-15-ttyx1200.jpg>
> 
> ---ooOoo---
> 
> 
> 
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