31 Dec
2012
31 Dec
'12
6:24 p.m.
On 12/30/2012 04:59 PM, Michael B. Brutman wrote:
I have two Model F keyboards (original PC or XT) that have gone bad due to
an intermittent connection in the DIN connector. I'm not sure how these
were originally assembled, but in the mode of failure that I have the pins
(embedded in the round black plastic that spaces them) come out of the
rubber sleeve. Pressing tightly restores connection for a little bit, but
it is not really usable that way.
Finding the DIN plug is not a problem. But I really don't want to hack off
the end of the cable with the nice molded IBM plug. These are not museum
pieces, but I'd like the repair to be unobtrusive.
Has anybody else run into this problem and attempted a fix?
What's at the other end of the cable? It's been so long that I don't
remember. I assume it goes via some molded strain-relief widget at the
keyboard end, but does it terminate within the keyboard with a plug that
*is* replaceable (or perhaps wires soldered straight to a PCB)?
If so, personally I'd replace the whole molded cable and plug with modern
parts, but keep the original cable and faulty connector to pass on to a
future owner. Then I'd have a working keyboard, but a subsequent owner
could return it to a partly-functional original "museum piece" if they
wanted (or hack the plug off and replace that if they so desired, but at
least I still would have done my bit to preserve things).
cheers
Jules