Kit Turns Typewriter Into Computer Keyboard
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About three years ago, 28-year-old Jack Zylkin found an old Royal typewriter on the side of a road. After polishing it up, he recognized its “cool” technology and wondered how he could make use of it. After a few months of weekend work, he developed a circuit board and USB connection.
“Most typewriters have a cross bar underneath that goes across all the keys. I decided to mount the circuitry on that,” Zylkin explains. “I posted the project online (www.hive76.org) and was amazed at the response the project got. I realized there was a demand.”
His $74 Easy Install Conversion kit can be installed in about an hour with basic tools including a screwdriver, pliers, wire stripper, scissors and sandpaper or a scraping tool. The kit includes the circuit board, cloth tape and everything needed to make the conversion.
The kit allows the typewriter to be hooked up to computers, iPads, laptops and other devices with a USB port.
“You can assign hot keys and key combinations to get the same flexibility as with a modern keyboard,” Zylkin says. “You don’t have to hit the keys that hard. Press them like a normal keyboard.”
As a bonus, you can slip a piece of paper in the typewriter for a hard copy and still have the ability to easily edit it on the computer.
In addition to the kit, Zylkin restores typewriters and offers complete units starting at $700.
“A lot of people have taken the kit and used it as a springboard for other projects. One guy made a printer out of his typewriter. Another used it to make a video game,” Zylkin says.
Check out the website for installation information and typewriter models that can be converted.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jack Zylkin (jack@usbtypewriter.com; www.usbtypewriter.com).
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Kit Turns Typewriter Into Computer Keyboard COMPUTERS About three years ago 28-year-old Jack Zylkin found an old Royal typewriter on the side of a road After polishing it up he recognized its “cool” technology and wondered how he could make use of it After a few months of weekend work he developed a circuit board and USB connection “Most typewriters have a cross bar underneath that goes across all the keys I decided to mount the circuitry on that ” Zylkin explains “I posted the project online www hive76 org and was amazed at the response the project got I realized there was a demand ” His $74 Easy Install Conversion kit can be installed in about an hour with basic tools including a screwdriver pliers wire stripper scissors and sandpaper or a scraping tool The kit includes the circuit board cloth tape and everything needed to make the conversion The kit allows the typewriter to be hooked up to computers iPads laptops and other devices with a USB port “You can assign hot keys and key combinations to get the same flexibility as with a modern keyboard ” Zylkin says “You don’t have to hit the keys that hard Press them like a normal keyboard ” As a bonus you can slip a piece of paper in the typewriter for a hard copy and still have the ability to easily edit it on the computer In addition to the kit Zylkin restores typewriters and offers complete units starting at $700 “A lot of people have taken the kit and used it as a springboard for other projects One guy made a printer out of his typewriter Another used it to make a video game ” Zylkin says Check out the website for installation information and typewriter models that can be converted Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jack Zylkin jack@usbtypewriter com; www usbtypewriter com
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