Why Is It Called The Tinny50?

After a couple of months of using a 40% and trying to convince myself that it wasn’t a dumb idea, I eventually realised using a 40% was indeed a dumb idea. I hated the lack of physical number keys and needing to memorise where keys were, rather than being able to rely on visuals and sight.

I came up with the Tinny50 layout because I wanted a small keyboard that was actually useable, so I could test batches of switches for a few days without inconveniencing myself too much.

If you squint hard enough, the layout kind of looks like a bucket. The main 40% layout being the bucket itself, and the isolated number row being the handle/bail.

At this point, some people are able to see a connection, but let me keep going and explain further.

Buckets are often made from metal, and the easiest way metal can be incorporated into a keyboard design, is through the switch plate.

In Australia, Tinny/Tinnie is the slang term for a can of beer or small aluminium boat; both of which have some sort of reference and connection to metal.

If you know much about Australia, you’d know our land is blessed with large reserves of high-quality ores. Mining and Metal is such a significant industry and a major part of the economy.

Naturally, to complete the theme of “Australia and Metal”, I ended up deciding that I need to use locally made Aluminium keyboard plates in my Tinny50 kits.

TDLR:
> Layout Looks like a Bucket 
> Buckets can be made from Metal
> Australia loves metal
> Tinny is slang for aluminium boat / aluminium cans of beer
> Tinny50 uses an aluminium plate produced locally in Australia