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Cork Pads for IBM 5150, 5160, 5170 (and similar) & Clicky Keyboards

FINALLY !

After eight months, I’ve finally got the rubber cork, and I’ve made the first set.

Set plus orig.jpg

For comparison, the 6th pad on the right is my worn/dirty original.
Don’t worry they’re perfectly round – it’s only the shadow that makes them look oval.

The 5150/5160 pads are 1 5/8” dia & 1/8” thick, and the keyboard pads are 1” dia & 1/16” think.
They’ve got a 3M industrial adhesive backing, so you just peel the paper off the bottom, and stick them where you want.

With an alternate supplier of rubber cork than originally planned, it cost me more than I had figured.
The rubber cork also weighs more than I figured, so postage costs more.

Those that previously PM’d me wanting a set, will get their set of five of each size for the $ 2.50 originally mentioned. I’ll send PMs to those people shortly.

For anyone else now wanting a set, the cost will be $ 3.50 (incl postage in the US), and it’ll be for a set of four of each size. Like I said before, I’m not out to make money on this, I just want to cover my costs, which I’m “hoping” I’ll be able to do with the revised price.

After I get the previous orders out, I’ll probably put them on the VCF Marketplace.
 
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Looks great, Lorne.

But who needs cork pads? A couple of wads of used chewing gum between the keyboard and the tabletop keeps things in place very nicely... :)
 
I don't have a good source of used chewing gum here, and there's no side walks so even that source is not available. :)

Great job Lorne! But, considering how much trouble this is, you're not charging enough.
 
I got mine in the mail from Lorne yesterday.

They are 100% exact! I am impressed.

Thanks for putting in the effort on this,
Bill
 
Got mine last night. perfect perfect perfect.
Lorne says he's got some left, so get your paypal on and take advantage of this rare offer.
 
I'm glad everyone likes the pads.
That kind of feedback means it was worth waiting for, and makes the whole thing worthwhile.

Everyone who received a PM from me, and replied ordering the pads, has had their pads mailed to them.

Those that didn't reply to the PM, and any others now wanting a set of pads can get them through a listing on the VCGM at:
http://marketplace.vintage-computer.com/auction_details.php?auction_id=109473

Thanks,

Lorne.
 
Mine arrived yesterday and Lorne they are a perfect match for the 5170 and the AT F-Type Keyboard. So you can add those to your list as well!
 
I put mine on an IBM 5150, which was missing them, they are pretty damn close to the originals.
 
FAIR WARNING:

There are only 10 sets of pads left.

I've a ton of extra keyboard pads, but after the last 10 sets (base unit & keyboard) that'll be it for the sets and the base unit pads.

This notice has not been made so someone can come in and scoop them all up, and then Ebay them for $ 12 for 4 pads (= $ 24/set like someone else is doing, and there's nothing wrong with that as they're their pads now).
This is just to give notice to VCF members who haven't got them yet, but wanted them.
I'm only going to honor sales of a maximum of 3 sets per person, so don't try buying more.

The VCGM auction # is: # 111784
 
Lorne said:
FAIR WARNING:

There are only 10 sets of pads left.

I've a ton of extra keyboard pads, but after the last 10 sets (base unit & keyboard) that'll be it for the sets and the base unit pads.

This notice has not been made so someone can come in and scoop them all up, and then Ebay them for $ 12 for 4 pads (= $ 24/set like someone else is doing, and there's nothing wrong with that as they're their pads now).
This is just to give notice to VCF members who haven't got them yet, but wanted them.
I'm only going to honor sales of a maximum of 3 sets per person, so don't try buying more.

The VCGM auction # is: # 111784
Click to expand...

Man, and I was just about to try and corner the cork pad market. ;) Seriously guys, this stuff is great it matches perfectly and even if you don't need them now oyu may need them for repairs in the future. I have fours set - just in case!
 
Shadow Lord said:
Seriously guys, this stuff is great it matches perfectly and even if you don't need them now oyu may need them for repairs in the future. I have fours set - just in case!
Click to expand...

Ditto. They're fantastic! I've 4 sets, all still in the mailer that Lorne mailed them in, and solely for use with my classic IBMs once they're needed.

And Lorne, while you may not be annoyed, I was and am quite annoyed for you! I saw that eBay seller. He annoyed me, greatly, as I knew that those came from you, how much work you went through to find them as a service for the community as much as for yourself, how you sold them simply to recoup costs, while he's selling them at what? 7x the cost? just to attempt to turn a buck off of your sweat. I don't deal well with people like that... it's shady.
 
Just a word of thanks for selling me three sets a few months ago -- I used them to repair the bottom of an AT&T PC 6300 as well as a real IBM 83-key and both are now skid-free and level!

Pulling the old, worn-out pads off of the keyboard, I was astonished just how close of a match your pads were -- in fact, quite honestly, I don't think I would have been able to tell them apart. Truly outstanding work.
 
Trixter said:
Just a word of thanks for selling me three sets a few months ago -- I used them to repair the bottom of an AT&T PC 6300 as well as a real IBM 83-key and both are now skid-free and level!
Click to expand...

Did your 6300 have cork pads originally? Mine came with felt pads on the bottom--maybe 1/8" thick.
 
Maverick1978 said:
Ditto. They're fantastic! I've 4 sets, all still in the mailer that Lorne mailed them in, and solely for use with my classic IBMs once they're needed.

And Lorne, while you may not be annoyed, I was and am quite annoyed for you! I saw that eBay seller. He annoyed me, greatly, as I knew that those came from you, how much work you went through to find them as a service for the community as much as for yourself, how you sold them simply to recoup costs, while he's selling them at what? 7x the cost? just to attempt to turn a buck off of your sweat. I don't deal well with people like that... it's shady.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments but that's where I'm slighltly different.
If I'm selling something, it's mine until I sell it to you.
Once you've bought it, it's yours and it's up to you to do whatever you want with it - it's no longer any of my business.
In this case, the guy bought ten sets of pads, and in an entrepreneurial way, he offered them in a market I wasn't exploiting, and that I never had any intention of exploiting, so good for him.
I only wanted to recoup my costs in recreating the pads (like that was ever going to happen).

He's actually a really good guy, and he did ask before he bought them, if I'd mind if he sold them on Ebay.
I said I didn't, that they were his now, and he could do whatever he wanted with them.
I never thought he'd sell any at that price, but surprisingly he's sold a few, and mostly to International buyers.
At 50 cents per month for an Ebay re-listing fee, good for him - he needs to sell them for more than I do on the VCGM.
And it's actually a good thing as there are people out there who don't know about the VCF and the VCGM (Erik has been a bit lax that way internationally) who need the pads, and are happy to be able to get them.

Besides, once these final 10 sets are gone, at least they'll still be available on Ebay for a while, and maybe even from you and Shadow Lord after that. :)
 
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