Keyboard Parts

[Roger Horton]

>On 20 July 1999 at 20:23 Keth Bailey(KARIK at GLOBALNET.COM) asked on the
Subject of: >Keyboard Parts
>
>I am build ing a keyboard controller for my synth and i was wodering if
>anybody knows of a supplier in the UK were i can get the keys, switches
etc.
>without having to resort to buying a midi controller keyboard and trashing
>it to get the keys off
---------------------
Keith,
I recently posted the following message to this list.  It should be of
interest to you.  The keys on the 3-octave units I mention are easily
detachable if you are sticking to your method.

Roger
> ----------
> From: 	Roger Horton[SMTP:R.L.Horton at Hud.ac.uk]
> Sent: 	29 June 1999 14:20
> To: 	'synth-diy'
> Subject: 	RE: Where to get keyboards?
> 
> High Bill!  I too am a newbie on this list.  I have been struggling with
> the
> same problem for some time here in the UK.  So far I have come up with the
> following, which may be of limited use to you, but of interest to DIYers
> in
> the UK. 
> 
> BTW, this message is looooong!  I have deliberately included a lot of
> information to save people calling these very busy contacts.
>  
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> ------------------------------------------------------
> W.D.Greenhill Ltd
> 1 Oxford Road,
>  Rochford,
>  Essex, 
>  England, UK
> Post code:  SS4 1TG
> Tel & fax: (UK)  (0)1702-546195
> email: WDGLtd at aol.com
> Web:  www.mitatechs.com/greenhill.html
> 
> Bill Greenhill is based in Rochford, Essex, here in the UK.  He runs a
> one-man business providing support for lots of people around the world who
> require parts for organs, synthesizers, etc. 
> 
> I am sure Bill will not mind me saying this, but he is a fountain of
> information and expertise;  he is extremely helpful (and, as a
> consequence,
> very busy).  If you know what parts you require in terms of manufacturer
> then Bill is well worth contacting.  If he cannot help directly, he may be
> able to help you with the names of possible contacts in your part of the
> world.  If you do not know what you want, then please respect Bills time
> and
> don't waste it by calling him!
> 
> BTW, Bill is thinking of retiring sometime!  If you are knowledgeable in
> this subject and interested in taking over his business, give him a call.
> It would be a shame if all the kit he has in stock is trashed.
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>  J&N Factors
>  Pilgrim Works,
>  Stairbridge Lane,
>  Bolney,
>  Sussex,
>  England, UK
> Post code: RH17 5PA
> Tel & fax:  (UK) (0)1444 881965 Monday-Friday (I think it may be mornings
> only).
> 
> Due to the high shipping costs, this may be of interest to UK people only
> due to shipping costs.
> 
> J&N are dealers in surplus electronics and electrical items who advertise
> in
> well known DIY electronics magazines here in the UK.  I recently
> discovered
> that they had an interesting 3-octave keyboard item in stock.  I obtained
> some to look at and decided to order more.  Despite the age and condition,
> these appear to be just the sort of item I have been looking for in terms
> of
> building experimental keyboard systems.  The condition of the units vary
> and
> quite a bit of work may be required on them, but unless I can find a
> better
> cheap source of keyboard assembles (any help would be appreciated), these
> should be adequate for my needs.
> 
> The details I have are as follows:
> 
> The boxed product I have obtained is:
> ORGAN MASTER KEYBOARD
> Echo Keyboard and echosoft Organ Master software for Sinclair Spectrum
> computers. Built for Currys (electrical retailers in the UK).
> "The ECHO music system consists of a range of software and hardware
> peripherals for the production of sound and music for microcomputers.  The
> range has now been extended to cover the Sinclair Spectrum 128K machine."
> 
> The ECHO keyboard description:
> Black metal case with brown plastic end-caps.  3-octave C-to-C  37 full
> size
> keys.
> Keys are one-piece plastic attached by a metal coil spring at the rear of
> the key.
> The keys are mounted on a one-piece plastic frame.  A PCB containing a
> bus-bar in 5 sections, plus associate diodes, is fixed beneath the frame.
> The key-contact assembly is very basic;  each key contact is a straight
> wire
> at 90 degrees to one bus-bar.  These wires are some sort of straight thin
> metal soldered to the PCB at one end and located in a hole beneath each
> key.
> Pressing and releasing a key makes or breaks contact with the bus-bar. 
> 
> I do not know who manufactured the key-board assembly, but the following
> information is moulded into the frame:
> 
> I.A.T.A.R.   ???  possibly has more letters, but a hole has been moulded
> at
> this point.
> N. 231181
> Made In Italy
> 
> die-sucker
> TRIS STAMPI
> Montelupone -MC-
> 
> 
> The main PCB is stamped with the letters "IS".
> 
> Notes:
> 1. These units appear to date from the 1980's.
> 2. The condition varies due to length and type of storage.  Some units
> appear to still be in their original factory plastic wrapping, while
> others
> appear to have been returned to Currys as DOA.  Some boxes are complete
> (in
> terms of manual, software, etc.), some incomplete.  Box condition varies a
> lot!
> 3. The units come unchecked.  I have 30 units; two or three have been
> slightly damaged by water.  Best bet for buyers is to go direct to J&N and
> pick what you want (they have several hundred of these things in stock). 
> 4. The frames appear to be cut from longer units.
> 5. It should be relatively easy to join sub-assemblies to make longer
> keyboards.
> 6. The key-contacts and PCB may need replacing.  I am talking to Bill
> Greenhill (see above) about suitable key-contacts.
> 7. Last known cost was about 5 UK pounds each, plus shipping.  Due to the
> weight and box size of these units, the shipping costs are quite high.
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> I hope this helps someone.  Apologies if the above information is already
> known to this list, but I have been unable to access the archive (doesn't
> seem to be working on the Web site I tried).
> 
> BTW, is there an FAQ for this list?
> 
> If anyone in the UK can furnish me with other sources of parts (keyboards,
> key-contacts, chips, etc.)  please e-mail me direct (or to this list if
> new
> information).
> 
> Enjoy!
> 
> Roger
> e-mail: r.l.horton at hud.ac.uk
> 
> > ----------
> > From: 	Bill Campbell[SMTP:wcampbel at peganet.com]
> > Sent: 	27 June 1999 22:02
> > To: 	synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl
> > Subject: 	Where to get keyboards?
> > 
> > I am a newbie to this list. I used to do a lot of work on
> > synths in the late 70s, mostly modifications to MiniMoogs
> > (e.g. adding sync) and also repair work on Moogs and Arps.
> > 
> > My question is: where can I obtain keyboards for home
> > built projects? I've looked around the net but haven't
> > had any luck locating a source.
> > 
> > Thanks in advance,
> > 
> > =Bill Campbell=
> > Ft. Myers, FL
> > 
> 
> 
>