Is https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3/ the project you're referring to?
See: Rolex watches, Bugatti cars, Chanel clothes, etc.
My evil plan would be to go on for other types of incredibly rare hardware that could run in emulation while the physical interface with the human can be replicated with reasonable accuracy with modern technology.
A PC keyboard is not ideal for a Xerox Star, or a Symbolics, but is quite fine for an Amiga, Atari ST or Archimedes
Anyway, yes, small-batch artisanal handmade keyboards cost a lot of money.
> Build quality has diminishing returns.
Of course it does. But the point where the gradient tilts might surprise you.
I have tried a Unicomp modern replica of an IBM Model M. It was not a very nice keyboard, IMHO. It felt and sounded cheap and plasticky, with poor quality mouldings, rough edges, and so on.
This was a $150 replica device. It did not feel like hundred-and-fifty buck hardware. It felt a bit cheap and nasty.
(The owner told me it died not that long afterwards.)
This is the problem: proper quality kit costs, even if it's a modern reproduction of a mass-produced item from 30-40 years ago.
I agree: it's a ridiculously expensive keyboard. But the cheaper repro I tried disappointed me badly.
In any case, the layout is more important than key feel (unless it's absolutely terrible) - for many machines you NEED those keys and, if they are in the same positions than they used to be, the experience is a lot better.
I contacted the company. Turns out their address was within half an hour's walk from my old apartment in Prague. I thought I could at least try one.
Nope. It's just a mailing address. Actually they are in a remote part of the country, at least 3-4 hours' travel away.
I've been meaning to write a blog post about it but I'm still finishing shakedown (currently chasing a wiring problem that messes up multi-key chords on the homerow)
The conclusion I drew after researching the subject and talking to people was it's not viable unless you're planning to turn it into an actual product and sell large numbers later on. Looks like the manufacturers are assuming you'll follow up with large orders.
But then you want the keycaps, and each special keyboard has its own set .. double injection moulds are expensive unless you do a large batch.
I know very little about keyboards (not much beyond reading a matrix, which is something I did once, 30+ years ago), but I’m in.
I would imagine by now there would be a KiCAD wizard that would generate a standard keyboard with extra rows and columns if needed and all customisation would be dragging the switch footprints to their positions for the non 1:1 keys.
Keycaps can be blank, laser eroded and resin filled, dye sub, or any other technique.
By compromise on accuracy I just mean they won't be the chunky doubleshot ABS keycaps like the originals. You can definitely still make something that looks nice and has the symbols you'd want.