ClickyKeyboards

08/22/2026

1995 IBM model M + 2026 Ctrl M = USB ready for tomorrow

08/15/2026

Workshop Reality. 🔧⌨️ Behind every legendary IBM Model M is a little dirt, a lot of patience, and some serious restoration work.

This one is getting the deep-clean treatment because 30+ years of dust shouldn't stop those legendary mechanical keyboards from clicking again! See the process.

08/08/2026

IBM APL (A Programming Language) is a high-level, interactive programming language developed by IBM in the 1960s, originally based on the mathematical notation devised by Kenneth E. Iverson. Its central data type is the multidimensional array, and it is characterized by the use of special graphic symbols to represent functions and operators, allowing for extremely concise code.

08/01/2026

Some people see shelves... we see history. ⌨️

Every keyboard on these racks has a story.

From late-1980s IBM Model M keyboards to rare terminal variants and new old stock parts, each one is carefully photographed, cataloged, and waiting for its next chapter. Many have been rescued from IBM FRU warehouses across the US, Fortune 500 businesses, and data centers where they sat untouched for decades.

Restoring these legendary keyboards isn't just our business—it's our passion. We take pride in preserving one of the greatest mechanical keyboards ever made so it can be enjoyed by the next generations for years to come.

Which manufacturing date would you choose if you could own one?

07/25/2026

07/18/2026

Customer states: another space bar doesn't work. 4/20/2011 Unicomp
Diagnosis: Replace bad buckling-spring assembly
Last month, the same customer submitted two Unicomp keyboards for repair due to the same issue. (See the previous post on June 27 regarding the 12/2/2020 keyboard.) On the 2011 keyboard, the space bar was reported to malfunction. We discovered that the flipper plate attached to the buckling spring had cracked beneath the space bar. The cause of the cracked flipper remains unknown. Additionally, observed that certain keys on the 2011 keyboard were constructed from distinct plastic types of two different batches and exhibited varying oxidation/wear patterns. Advised user to consider adjusting his superpower force skill.

After replaced the cracked part that failed prematurely with a new buckling spring assembly. We thoroughly cleaned away any dust and debris and washed keys in ultrasonic cleaner. Key colors appear to be related to plastic used during initial Unicomp build. Advised our colleagues at Unicomp in Kentucky to report our findings with 2011 and 2020 keyboard to see if they had any additional technical insights.

07/11/2026

July 2026 inventory of Ctrl-M replacement controllers.

Replacement controller made in 2026 for the legendary 1980s and 1990s IBM Model M keyboards based on the STM32F072 microcontroller. It runs the well known feature rich QMK open source firmware for keyboards.

This allows users to custom program and/or modernize vintage keyboards using their own USB cable, eliminating the need to find or use hard-to-find SDL to PS/2 cables.

07/04/2026

🇺🇸🎉❤️ Restoring America's heritage, one keyboard at a time: 7 vintage IBM models revitalized for July 4, 2026.

Featuring a rare 84-key IBM SSK, proudly Made in USA. 🇺🇸 🎂❤️

06/27/2026

Customer states: space bar doesn't work. 12/3/2020 Unicomp
Diagnosis: Replace bad component.

The customer mailed their keyboard to ClickyKeyboards for repair. Our initial diagnosis confirmed the issue and identified the broken component. After removing the faulty part, we replaced the cracked part that failed prematurely with a new buckling-spring assembly. Replaced the melted plastic rivets with durable metal screws. Reassembled and tested successfully. We thoroughly cleaned away any dust and debris before returning to the customer.

Ready for action.

06/20/2026

Not afraid to take the time to diagnose issues and apply the right tools and techniques to restore vintage items into modern classics.