Date   : Sat, 05 May 2012 21:16:48 -0400
From   : rick@... (rick@...)
Subject: Tip for repairing a duff Master keyboard key

Quoting Sprow <info@...>:

> In my opinion the Master keyboard isn't as nice as the BBC B/B+, except that
> it has the numeric keypad.

On the other hand, the Master offers so much more. ;-)


I'd happily swap my Beeb for a Master. Can't see anybody taking me up  
on that offer though...


> Then I think I read somewhere that the key contacts are silver plated,

Can't be as bad as the A310's keyboard. I've not stripped it (it needs  
fixing) but what I've seen, it appears to be discs of tin-foil stuck  
to spongy material on the bottom of the key. Will that have stood up  
to time? I'd be surprised...

My A5000 keyboard needs repairing too. I think there's a problem in  
the cable somewhere. Damn shame Acorn took so long to switch to  
generic PS/2 keyboards!


> 2 weeks later the letter 'B' is still working, and I hope this is of help to
> someone else,

Good idea - I considered cleaning the A310's with some vinegar on a  
j-cloth. Same idea, a weak acid. What worries me about yours is that  
you put the stuff down there... and it stays/dries in situ? Won't that  
have side effects in the long run?


> Note: as I recall from A levels, weak is the opposite of strong

<giggle> If ever there was a sentence begging to be rephrased!


> which is different to dilute versus concentrated

Ah, you're getting into complicated stuff that is damn hard to explain  
to normal people...but then a worryingly large number of said normal  
people seem to buy into the flower-remedy idea that the more you  
dilute something, the more power it has. Funny, that never worked with  
Kia-Ora!


Best wishes,

Rick.