Gordon Fecyk Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) I started restoring an otherwise-working Commodore 128 (not D) and melted my space bar while trying to retrobright it. Not very (retro)bright, I know 😛 - but now I have no space bar. C128 parts systems look pretty rare outside of North America, at least on eBay. Are there other keyboards whose space bars would fit a C128? Apparently the springs from a plus/4 would work but I'd need the key itself, and at least one person scavenged a plunger from an Amiga 500 that fit. -- Edited January 29, 2023 by Gordon Fecyk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 15 minutes ago, Gordon Fecyk said: melted my space bar while trying to retrobright it Pics required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Fecyk Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) 6 hours ago, OLD CS1 said: Pics required. You kidding? Well if you insist... Edited January 29, 2023 by Gordon Fecyk Removed EXIF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 3 hours ago, Gordon Fecyk said: You kidding? Well if you insist... Not the gore I was expecting. There are some people who sell individual keys for various 8-bits on eBay. You also find damaged, not working, or keyboards missing keys there, as well. Ask here in the Wanted section of the Marketplace, check eBay, also check AmiBay. Good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oracle_jedi Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) Looks like the same physical key used on the A500 Mitsumi keyboards. Here are images of the underside of the A500 space bar, and then laid atop the 128s keyboard. They are the same width and shape. Edited January 29, 2023 by oracle_jedi Poor grammar. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Fecyk Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) Thanks folks for confirming some things. I can locate Amiga 500 parts-only machines easier than I could locate C128s. So, lesson learned: Don't actually boil your keys. I did have the stove under control using a double boiler setup, but someone else decided to bake a pizza at the same time. Edited January 29, 2023 by Gordon Fecyk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 45 minutes ago, Gordon Fecyk said: I did have the stove under control using a double boiler setup, but someone else decided to bake a pizza at the same time. Not ashamed to admit I had a hearty guffaw at this. Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men. No matter how controlled our environments are, they must be shared and all we can do is watch in horror and clean up the mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 It is interesting how many variations there are of the Retrobrite recipe: * Hydro peroxide, UV light, minimum heat * Hydro peroxide, heat, no need of UV light * TAED only * UV light only, no need of hydro peroxide etc While all these may have similar effects to the plastic, they can't be performing the exact same chemical reaction. We know that the lasting effects of a treatment varies from months to years, and it may depend on the exact composition of the plastic to begin with. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virtualsky Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 I've just come to accept this "aging" of my Commodore devices and look upon it as a patina that brings an authentic distinction to them. Like a piece of high-quality leather or crafted bronze. 😁 Besides, if I tried this sort of restoration, I'd probably screw it up and I can't afford to buy replacement parts at these going prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hofster Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Given the amount of buzz around the all new keycaps that everyone seems to get for their Commodores at the moment, there should be plenty of old keycaps available. At least for C64 and Amiga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 9 hours ago, hofster said: Given the amount of buzz around the all new keycaps that everyone seems to get for their Commodores at the moment, there should be plenty of old keycaps available. At least for C64 and Amiga. I Kickstarted new Commodore 64 key caps back in... ::checks watch:: 2016. Never appeared. There are other projects? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hofster Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 I believe it was this one: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/keycaps-for-your-commodore-computer#/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 8 minutes ago, hofster said: I believe it was this one: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/keycaps-for-your-commodore-computer#/ Too late to get on-board. No, I backed this one: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/brand-new-colored-keycaps-for-your-commodore-c64--2/ EDIT: The project you posted was CBMStuff, and the key caps are now available at their site. Gonna have to grab a couple of sets. https://www.cbmstuff.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_83&product_id=110 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hofster Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 I think these are the Amiga caps that people are switching to: https://www.a1200.net/shop/amiga-keycaps-set-black/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 9 minutes ago, hofster said: I think these are the Amiga caps that people are switching to: https://www.a1200.net/shop/amiga-keycaps-set-black/ Probably. The A1200 guys have delivered on all their projects. I have their A1200 cases and key caps, and an A500 case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oracle_jedi Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 I wonder if they'd just sell a space bar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hofster Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 On 1/31/2023 at 7:33 AM, oracle_jedi said: I wonder if they'd just sell a space bar? Maybe but I think they're only available in black. I was more thinking about all the original key caps that the buyers are removing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 17 hours ago, hofster said: Maybe but I think they're only available in black. I was more thinking about all the original key caps that the buyers are removing It so happens that I kept the key caps I removed from my A1200 when I replaced them. The space bar looks to be in good shape. It is yours if you want to pay shipping from Burger Land. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Fecyk Posted February 3, 2023 Author Share Posted February 3, 2023 Turns out a plus/4 space bar will also fit, as long as you bring the plus/4 plunger along with it. Except for the depth of the key stalk, it's an exact match. And now the C128 is whole again. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snclucas Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 There is a seller on Etsy ... https://www.etsy.com/listing/669691543/commodore-128-original-key-comes-with?ref=yr_purchases Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hofster Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 2 minutes ago, snclucas said: There is a seller on Etsy ... https://www.etsy.com/listing/669691543/commodore-128-original-key-comes-with?ref=yr_purchases No space bar as far as I can see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvancopp Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 On 2/1/2023 at 10:26 PM, OLD CS1 said: It so happens that I kept the key caps I removed from my A1200 when I replaced them. The space bar looks to be in good shape. It is yours if you want to pay shipping from Burger Land. Hi @OLD CS1, If that is the Mitsumi space bar from the Amiga I would be interested in picking that up. I have a C128 that the space bar was damaged on (broke it into two pieces 😞 ) and would love to get my 128 useable again. Please let me know if we can come to an arrangement. Thanks! Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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