The Argyle project was initiated by Seoulcialite, a keyboard aficionado from South Korea, towards the end of 2019. The vision was to elevate the standard of through-hole keyboard kits within the community by incorporating a luxurious full aluminium casing and designing aesthetic side windows that showcased the operational components as users typed.
Throughout late 2019 and into early 2020, the concept began to materialize. James was enlisted for his CAD engineering, and Yiancar lent his expertise in PCB design, shaping the intricate details of Argyle. In 2020, Prototypist played a crucial role in overseeing the creation of prototypes to validate the functionality of the design. Several adjustments were necessary to refine the prototype to meet expectations. After achieving a satisfactory design by mid-2021, the project was temporarily paused until the logistics for a Group Buy could be organized in early 2022.
The Group Buy garnered significant interest, reaching its minimum order quantity swiftly, demonstrating the community's enthusiasm for Argyle.
However, as manufacturing commenced following the closure of the Group Buy, it became apparent that about 10% of the cases were erroneously produced using prototype designs due to a miscommunication. This issue was promptly addressed, leading to the successful production of the cases by the third quarter of 2023.
Since then, the project has dedicated over 3000 man hours to testing, assembling components, flashing integrated circuits, and conducting thorough quality control to ensure the highest standards. As of now, the team is excited to commence the distribution of Argyle keyboards to our supportive customers. In gratitude for their patience, a special token of appreciation will be included with each shipment.
As of March 7th 2023 (when this was written) 5% of the keyboards have been dispatched, with plans to complete all shipments within the next two weeks. All product updates and more information on the project history and production are available on our Notion Updates page HERE. (N.B. all keyboards have now been shipped, Jae - 12th March 2024)