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History of Mechanical Keyboards: From Typewriters to Customs

8 min read

History of Mechanical Keyboards

The story of mechanical keyboards spans over a century, from clunky typewriters to today’s precision-engineered customs. Understanding this history helps us appreciate why mechanical keyboards matter.

The Typewriter Era (1868-1960s)

1868: The Sholes and Glidden Typewriter

The Beginning: Christopher Latham Sholes invented the first practical typewriter. It featured:

  • Mechanical key switches (levers and springs)
  • QWERTY layout (designed to prevent jamming)
  • Tactile and audible feedback with every press

Why It Matters: This established the foundation for mechanical switches and the QWERTY layout we still use today.

QWERTY Layout Origins

The Design Problem: Early typewriters jammed when adjacent keys were pressed quickly. Sholes arranged common letter pairs (like “TH”) far apart to prevent jamming.

The Result: QWERTY became the standard, not because it’s optimal, but because it solved a mechanical problem that no longer exists.

Alternative Layouts:

  • Dvorak (1936) - Optimized for speed
  • Colemak (2006) - Modern ergonomic layout
  • Workman (2010) - Reduced finger travel

Why QWERTY Won: Network effects. Everyone learned QWERTY, so it became entrenched despite better alternatives existing.

Early Computing Era (1960s-1980s)

IBM Beam Spring (1960s-1970s)

The Premium Keyboard: IBM’s first major keyboard used capacitive beam spring switches:

  • Extremely tactile
  • Very expensive to manufacture
  • Heavy (over 10 lbs)
  • Used in IBM mainframes

Legacy: Set IBM’s reputation for quality keyboards. Extremely rare and collectible today.

1970s: Hall Effect Keyboards

The Technology: Keyboards using magnetic Hall effect sensors instead of metal contacts:

  • No physical contact = no wear
  • Extremely durable
  • Analog input possible
  • Used in aerospace and industrial applications

Modern Revival: Hall effect keyboards are making a comeback in 2024 with gaming keyboards offering adjustable actuation points.

The Golden Age (1980s-1990s)

1984: IBM Model M - The Legend

The Icon: IBM Model M, released in 1984, remains the most influential keyboard ever made.

Technology: Buckling Spring

  • Spring buckles at actuation point
  • Creates distinctive “click-clack” sound
  • Tactile and audible feedback
  • Extremely durable (many still work 40+ years later)

Specifications:

  • Weight: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) - built like a tank
  • Keycaps: Double-shot ABS
  • Layout: Full-size with function keys
  • Lifespan: Essentially indefinite

Cultural Impact:

  • Defined “quality keyboard” for a generation
  • Inspired modern mechanical keyboard revival
  • Still manufactured today by Unicomp
  • Used in hospitals, industries, by enthusiasts

Why People Love It:

  • Satisfying typing feel and sound
  • Indestructible build quality
  • Nostalgia factor
  • Statement piece

Why Some Don’t:

  • VERY loud (office nightmare)
  • Heavy and bulky
  • Non-standard bottom row
  • Expensive (originals: $100-300)

1983: Cherry MX Switches Invented

The Revolution: Cherry Corporation (Germany) invented the Cherry MX switch, creating the modern mechanical switch standard.

The Innovation:

  • MX-style stem (cross shape) for keycap compatibility
  • Multiple variants (Red, Blue, Brown, Black, etc.)
  • Modular design (housing + stem + spring)
  • 50-100 million keystroke lifespan

Cherry MX Color Codes (Original):

  • Black (1983): Linear, 60g - First Cherry MX switch
  • Blue (1985): Clicky, 60g - Typing favorite
  • Brown (1994): Tactile, 55g - All-purpose workhorse
  • Red (2008): Linear, 45g - Gaming standard

Why MX Won:

  • Reliable and consistent
  • Standardized design (easy manufacturing)
  • Wide variety of types
  • Compatible ecosystem

1990s: Keyboard Variety

The Peak: The 1990s had incredible keyboard diversity:

  • IBM Model M (buckling spring)
  • Cherry keyboards (Cherry MX)
  • Alps switches (Alps SKCM/SKCL)
  • Topre (electro-capacitive)
  • Membrane keyboards emerging

Alps Switches: Popular alternative to Cherry MX in 1980s-90s:

  • Different stem design (Alps mount)
  • Smooth tactile feel
  • Used in Apple Extended Keyboard
  • Discontinued, now collectible

Apple Extended Keyboard (1987): Used Alps switches, considered one of the best typing keyboards ever. Sought after by collectors today.

The Dark Ages (2000s)

The Membrane Takeover

What Happened: By the 2000s, mechanical keyboards nearly disappeared from consumer markets.

Why:

  • Cost cutting: Membrane keyboards cost $5-10 to manufacture vs. $50+ for mechanical
  • Profit margins: Companies maximized profit by selling cheap keyboards
  • Consumer ignorance: Most users didn’t know better
  • “Good enough” mentality: Membrane keyboards worked adequately

The Result: Mechanical keyboards became niche products for:

  • Enthusiasts who refused to downgrade
  • Industrial/medical applications
  • Point-of-sale systems
  • A few gaming keyboards (Razer, SteelSeries)

Cherry MX Patent: Cherry’s MX switch patents (filed 1980s) protected their design until ~2014. This limited competition and innovation.

The Gaming Revival (2010-2014)

Gamers Rediscover Mechanical

The Spark: Competitive gamers and streamers discovered mechanical keyboards offered advantages:

  • Faster actuation
  • N-key rollover (register all simultaneous keypresses)
  • Consistent feel
  • Durability

Key Brands:

  • Razer (2010): Razer BlackWidow - First mainstream gaming mechanical keyboard
  • Corsair (2013): Corsair K70 - Aluminum gaming keyboard
  • Logitech (2014): Logitech G710+ - Mainstream mechanical option

Custom Switches: Gaming brands created proprietary switches:

  • Razer Green/Orange/Yellow (2014+) - Made by Kailh
  • Logitech Romer-G (2014) - Custom switch
  • SteelSeries QX switches (2016) - Custom switches

The Impact: Gaming keyboards brought mechanical keyboards back to mainstream consumers, paving the way for enthusiast resurgence.

The Enthusiast Renaissance (2014-Present)

2014: Cherry MX Patents Expire

The Game Changer: Cherry’s core MX switch patents expired around 2014, allowing competitors to legally manufacture MX-compatible switches.

The Result:

  • Gateron (China): Smoother, cheaper Cherry MX clones
  • Kailh (China): Innovative Box and Speed switches
  • Greetech, Outemu, TTC: More alternatives
  • ZealPC: Premium switches (Zealios, Tealios)

Innovation Explosion: With no patent restrictions, switch makers innovated:

  • Kailh Box switches (dust/water resistant, stable)
  • Gateron Ink (ultra-smooth)
  • Holy Panda (Frankenstein switch, legendary tactility)
  • Silent switches (dampened stems)
  • Speed switches (shorter actuation)

Rise of Custom Keyboards

The DIY Movement: Around 2014-2016, enthusiasts began building custom keyboards:

Key Communities:

  • GeekHack (2007+): Technical forums, group buys
  • r/MechanicalKeyboards (2011+): Reddit community, now 1.8M+ members
  • Deskthority: Switch and keyboard wiki, discussions

The Custom Keyboard Ecosystem:

  • Group buys: Community-funded limited production runs
  • Artisan keycaps: Hand-crafted custom keycaps ($50-500 each!)
  • Custom PCBs: Programmable, hot-swap, unique layouts
  • CNC cases: Aluminum, brass, polycarbonate cases
  • Modifications: Lubing switches, custom mounting, sound tuning

2015-2020: Boutique Brands Emerge

Premium Keyboard Makers:

  • ZealPC (2016): Premium switches and keyboards
  • Rama Works (2016): High-end, aesthetic-focused keyboards
  • Keycult (2017): Ultra-premium, limited edition keyboards
  • Mode Designs (2020): Modern premium keyboards
  • Owlab, Sangeo, TGR: Korean premium brands

What They Offer:

  • CNC-machined aluminum cases
  • Custom mounting systems (gasket, leaf spring, top mount)
  • Unique aesthetics
  • Limited production runs
  • $400-$2,000+ price points

Group Buy Model: Instead of mass production:

  1. Designer announces keyboard (interest check)
  2. Community votes/provides feedback
  3. Group buy opens (limited time, pre-orders only)
  4. Manufacturing begins after group buy closes
  5. Wait 6-18 months for delivery
  6. Limited availability forever after

2020-Present: Mainstream Adoption

The Pandemic Effect: COVID-19 work-from-home trend accelerated mechanical keyboard interest:

  • More people investing in home office setups
  • Typing comfort matters for 8+ hour workdays
  • Streaming/content creation grows

Affordable Quality: Brands like Keychron democratized enthusiast features:

  • Keychron Q-series (2021): Aluminum gasket mount keyboards at $170
  • GMMK Pro (2021): Hot-swap aluminum keyboard at $170
  • Mode Sonnet (2021): Premium quality at $350

Features Once Premium, Now Standard:

  • Hot-swap sockets (swap switches without soldering)
  • QMK/VIA firmware (custom programming)
  • Gasket mount (premium typing feel)
  • PBT keycaps
  • Aluminum cases

Modern Innovations (2020s)

Hot-Swap Sockets

The Innovation: Sockets that allow switch swapping without soldering.

Impact:

  • Beginners can experiment with switches easily
  • Try different switches on same keyboard
  • Replace faulty switches instantly
  • Enables switch modding without commitment

Types:

  • Kailh hot-swap sockets (most common)
  • Gateron hot-swap sockets
  • Mill-Max sockets (solder-in hot-swap conversion)

QMK & VIA Firmware

QMK (Quantum Mechanical Keyboard): Open-source keyboard firmware enabling:

  • Custom key mapping
  • Layers (multiple layouts on one keyboard)
  • Macros
  • RGB programming
  • Tap dance (different actions for tap vs. hold)

VIA: GUI tool for QMK, making programming accessible to non-coders.

Impact: Users can now program keyboards without coding knowledge, creating personalized layouts.

Gasket Mount

What It Is: Keyboard mounting system where PCB assembly sits on compressible gaskets instead of rigid mounting.

Benefits:

  • Softer, more forgiving typing feel
  • Better sound profile
  • Reduces harshness
  • Premium feature now common

Types:

  • Top gasket mount
  • Bottom gasket mount
  • Sandwich gasket mount

Wireless Technology

Evolution:

  • 2010s: Basic Bluetooth (laggy, limited)
  • 2020s: High-performance wireless (2.4GHz + Bluetooth)

Modern Wireless Keyboards:

  • 1000Hz polling (same as wired)
  • 200+ hour battery life
  • Multi-device pairing
  • Hot-swap + wireless (Keychron K series)

Why It Matters: Wireless is no longer a compromise. Premium wireless keyboards match or exceed wired performance.

The State of Mechanical Keyboards Today

Market Size

  • $2.5+ billion market (2024)
  • 15% annual growth
  • Mainstream adoption beyond gaming

Community

  • r/MechanicalKeyboards: 1.8M+ members
  • YouTube: Thousands of keyboard content creators
  • Group buys: $500K-$1M+ for single keyboard designs
  • Artisan keycaps: Individual caps sell for $50-500

Price Ranges

  • Budget ($50-100): Keychron C, Royal Kludge, Redragon
  • Mid-range ($100-200): Keychron Q, Ducky, Leopold
  • Premium ($200-400): GMMK Pro, Mode, KBDfans
  • Enthusiast ($400+): Rama, TGR, Keycult

2024 and Beyond:

  • Hall effect switches: Analog input, adjustable actuation
  • Magnetic switches: Wooting, Razer Huntsman V2
  • AI integration: Predictive typing, smart macros
  • Eco-friendly: Sustainable materials, recycled plastics
  • Modular designs: Swap entire sections (numpad, F-row)

Key Milestones Timeline

  • 1868: First typewriter (Sholes and Glidden)
  • 1930s: QWERTY becomes standard
  • 1960s: IBM Beam Spring keyboards
  • 1984: IBM Model M (buckling spring)
  • 1983: Cherry invents MX switches
  • 1987: Apple Extended Keyboard (Alps switches)
  • 2000s: Membrane keyboards dominate
  • 2010: Razer BlackWidow (gaming revival)
  • 2014: Cherry MX patents expire
  • 2016: Custom keyboard community explodes
  • 2021: Keychron Q-series (affordable enthusiast keyboards)
  • 2024: Mainstream adoption, continued innovation

Cultural Impact

Why Mechanical Keyboards Matter

Beyond Typing: Mechanical keyboards represent:

  • Craftsmanship in a disposable world
  • Personalization and self-expression
  • Community and shared passion
  • Rejection of “good enough” mentality

The Hobby: Collecting, building, and customizing keyboards has become a legitimate hobby:

  • Like watches: functional but also collectible
  • Like cars: can be stock or heavily modified
  • Like sneakers: limited releases, community trading

Sound and ASMR: Keyboard typing sounds have become content:

  • YouTube sound tests get millions of views
  • ASMR typing videos for relaxation
  • Sound profiles as important as feel

Takeaway

Mechanical keyboards evolved from: → Practical typewriter tools (1868-1960s) → Computing peripherals (1970s-1990s) → Forgotten relics (2000s) → Gaming accessories (2010-2014) → Enthusiast hobby (2014-present) → Mainstream quality products (2020s)

The lesson: Quality endures. Despite decades where corporations pushed cheap membrane keyboards, mechanical keyboards returned because people prefer better typing experiences.

Next Steps