IBM Displaywriter keyboard - Beam Spring

snuci · 16 Jan 2016, 19:01

This was a recent acquisition in case I needed parts for my other beam spring keyboards. This is for the IBM Displaywriter word processing system seen here. It's from 1981 and has a number of internal labels including one that says "Clare Division Canada"... from Clare Pendar fame?

It does have an interesting mechanical caps lock where pressing the shift key will unlock it. It is pictured with a metal bar that is visible above the rubber key cap cover. Unfortunately, the top rubber cover that is over the beam spring switches is very fragile and the cracks were already there. I couldn't remove the cover without destroying it so I am leaving it on. That means no pics of the key switch tops but you can see them in theBeam Spring wiki entry.

Anyway, here are some pictures.

Here are some pics:

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard closeup; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard closeup.jpg (294.83 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard tilted.jpg (237.74 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism with key caps; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism with key caps.jpg (247.38 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism top; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism top.jpg (226.1 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - key switch cover left; IBM Displaywriter - key switch cover left.jpg (568.47 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - key switch cover middle; IBM Displaywriter - key switch cover middle.jpg (348.33 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - key switch cover right; IBM Displaywriter - key switch cover right.jpg (529.03 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism profile; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism profile.jpg (233.11 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism side; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism side.jpg (203.52 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism back; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism back.jpg (244.33 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism bottom plate; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard mechanism bottom plate.jpg (277.55 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyswitch bottom (PCB removed); IBM Displaywriter - keyswitch bottom (PCB removed).jpg (219.29 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - Key switch PCB; IBM Displaywriter - Key switch PCB.jpg (252.9 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard controller; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard controller.jpg (254.47 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard internal Clare label; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard internal Clare label.jpg (272.88 KiB) Viewed 6117 times

snuci · 16 Jan 2016, 19:19

More pics:

Internal and case pics:

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard internal label; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard internal label.jpg (231.95 KiB) Viewed 6106 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard internal Electro label; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard internal Electro label.jpg (372.67 KiB) Viewed 6106 times

: IBM Displaywriter - case top; IBM Displaywriter - case top.jpg (217.78 KiB) Viewed 6106 times

: IBM Displaywriter - internal case bottom; IBM Displaywriter - internal case bottom.jpg (250.75 KiB) Viewed 6106 times

: IBM Displaywriter - internal case top; IBM Displaywriter - internal case top.jpg (249.75 KiB) Viewed 6106 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard back; IBM Displaywriter - keyboard back.jpg (219.17 KiB) Viewed 6106 times

: IBM Displaywriter - keyboard back; IBM Displaywriter - key caps.jpg (162.42 KiB) Viewed 6106 times

: IBM Displaywriter - key cap profile; IBM Displaywriter - key cap profile.jpg (194.3 KiB) Viewed 6106 times

Chyros · 16 Jan 2016, 20:47

Wow, what a board. Amazing pictures as always

.

terrycherry · 17 Jan 2016, 10:31

That is great to see inside the keyboard with HD photo. Love it!

vivalarevolución · 17 Jan 2016, 15:20

Beautiful pictures. I have the same model. It has a lot of open space in the case. My plan is to replace some of the key caps with key caps from an IBM Selectric.

idollar · 17 Jan 2016, 15:22

Are you telling me that the keycasp from the IBM Selectric are compatible with the Beam Spring ?
I need to research this.

XMIT · 17 Jan 2016, 15:57

Yes, the key caps are compatible with the Selectric typewriter.

Thanks snuci for posting these photos as I never even had a chance to take mine never mind post them. In particular I wanted to call attention to the edge connector between the pad card and the controller board. With my xwhatsit Displaywriter controller the socket is wider than the edge controller by just a little bit. I had to carefully position the xwhatsit so that it made contact with all of the fingers on the edge connector.

If you have any extra beam spring switches snuci please let me know and I will happily buy one off of you. I want to convert the Lock key on mine to a non latching key but this requires a spring. I guess if nothing else I can turn a replacement spring myself.

vivalarevolución · 17 Jan 2016, 15:59

idollar wrote: Are you telling me that the keycasp from the IBM Selectric are compatible with the Beam Spring ?
I need to research this.

Yes, without a doubt. I have both types of keycaps in my possession right now and I have put a few of the Selectric keycaps on my Displaywriter beam spring just to test them out. I will take some pictures when my beam spring is back together.

idollar · 17 Jan 2016, 16:49

vivalarevolución wrote:
idollar wrote: Are you telling me that the keycasp from the IBM Selectric are compatible with the Beam Spring ?
I need to research this.
Yes, without a doubt. I have both types of keycaps in my possession right now and I have put a few of the Selectric keycaps on my Displaywriter beam spring just to test them out. I will take some pictures when my beam spring is back together.

I will be waiting for these pictures

vivalarevolución · 18 Jan 2016, 19:12

idollar wrote:
vivalarevolución wrote:
idollar wrote: Are you telling me that the keycasp from the IBM Selectric are compatible with the Beam Spring ?
I need to research this.
Yes, without a doubt. I have both types of keycaps in my possession right now and I have put a few of the Selectric keycaps on my Displaywriter beam spring just to test them out. I will take some pictures when my beam spring is back together.
I will be waiting for these pictures

Cleaning them right now, should be on the keyboard within a couple days. Can't wait to see the contrast in colors.

tentator · 03 Jun 2016, 13:44

do you have some pictures of it? might be interested to see how the contrast/similarity looks like

y11971alex · 03 Jun 2016, 23:55

$5 from Goodwill.

tentator · 04 Jun 2016, 08:53

Sorry?

emdude · 04 Jun 2016, 09:08

The price tag on the Displaywriter! It was $5 at Goodwill.