diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyTranslator.java b/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyTranslator.java
index d8bdcf43a..550640c76 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyTranslator.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyTranslator.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: KeyTranslator.java,v 1.4 2003/01/14 00:53:38 shaper Exp $
+// $Id: KeyTranslator.java,v 1.5 2003/01/17 01:33:34 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.util;
 
@@ -36,10 +36,17 @@ public interface KeyTranslator
 
     /**
      * Returns the number of times each second that key presses are to be
-     * automatically repeated while the key is held down.
+     * automatically repeated while the key is held down, or
+     * <code>0</code> to disable auto-repeat for the key.
      */
     public int getRepeatRate (int keyCode);
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the delay in milliseconds before generating auto-repeated
+     * key press events for the specified key.
+     */
+    public long getRepeatDelay (int keyCode);
+
     /**
      * Returns an iterator that iterates over the available press
      * commands.
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyTranslatorImpl.java b/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyTranslatorImpl.java
index 7a9e5b45d..e68e5913e 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyTranslatorImpl.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyTranslatorImpl.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: KeyTranslatorImpl.java,v 1.4 2003/01/14 00:53:38 shaper Exp $
+// $Id: KeyTranslatorImpl.java,v 1.5 2003/01/17 01:33:34 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.util;
 
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import java.util.Iterator;
 import com.samskivert.util.HashIntMap;
 
 /**
- * A simple implementation of the {@link KeyTranslator} interface that
+ * A basic implementation of the {@link KeyTranslator} interface that
  * provides facilities for mapping key codes to action command strings for
  * use by the {@link KeyboardManager}.
  */
@@ -31,14 +31,33 @@ public class KeyTranslatorImpl implements KeyTranslator
      * registered.
      *
      * @param rate the number of times each second that the key press
-     * should be repeated while the key is down; passing <code>0</code>
-     * will result in no repeating.
+     * should be repeated while the key is down, or <code>0</code> to
+     * disable auto-repeat for the key.
      */
     public void addPressCommand (int keyCode, String command, int rate)
+    {
+        addPressCommand(keyCode, command, rate, DEFAULT_REPEAT_DELAY);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Adds a mapping from a key press to an action command string that
+     * will auto-repeat at the specified repeat rate after the specified
+     * auto-repeat delay has expired.  Overwrites any existing mapping for
+     * the specified key code that may have already been registered.
+     *
+     * @param rate the number of times each second that the key press
+     * should be repeated while the key is down; passing <code>0</code>
+     * will result in no repeating.
+     * @param repeatDelay the delay in milliseconds before auto-repeating
+     * key press events will be generated for the key.
+     */
+    public void addPressCommand (
+        int keyCode, String command, int rate, long repeatDelay)
     {
         KeyRecord krec = getKeyRecord(keyCode);
         krec.pressCommand = command;
         krec.repeatRate = rate;
+        krec.repeatDelay = repeatDelay;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -90,7 +109,14 @@ public class KeyTranslatorImpl implements KeyTranslator
     public int getRepeatRate (int keyCode)
     {
         KeyRecord krec = (KeyRecord)_keys.get(keyCode);
-        return (krec == null) ? 0 : krec.repeatRate;
+        return (krec == null) ? DEFAULT_REPEAT_RATE : krec.repeatRate;
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public long getRepeatDelay (int keyCode)
+    {
+        KeyRecord krec = (KeyRecord)_keys.get(keyCode);
+        return (krec == null) ? DEFAULT_REPEAT_DELAY : krec.repeatDelay;
     }
 
     // documentation inherited
@@ -128,11 +154,19 @@ public class KeyTranslatorImpl implements KeyTranslator
         /** The rate in presses per second at which the key is to be
          * auto-repeated. */
         public int repeatRate;
+
+        /** The delay in milliseconds that must expire with the key still
+         * pressed before auto-repeated key presses will begin. */
+        public long repeatDelay;
     }
 
     /** The keys for which commands are registered. */
     protected HashIntMap _keys = new HashIntMap();
 
     /** The default key press repeat rate. */
-    protected static final int DEFAULT_REPEAT_RATE = 3;
+    protected static final int DEFAULT_REPEAT_RATE = 5;
+
+    /** The default delay in milliseconds before auto-repeated key presses
+     * will begin. */
+    protected static final long DEFAULT_REPEAT_DELAY = 150L;
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyboardManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyboardManager.java
index cd967a279..5d980ae30 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyboardManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/KeyboardManager.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: KeyboardManager.java,v 1.17 2003/01/16 21:18:02 shaper Exp $
+// $Id: KeyboardManager.java,v 1.18 2003/01/17 01:33:34 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.util;
 
@@ -397,6 +397,7 @@ public class KeyboardManager
             _releaseCommand = _xlate.getReleaseCommand(_keyCode);
             int rate = _xlate.getRepeatRate(_keyCode);
             _pressDelay = (rate == 0) ? 0 : (1000L / rate);
+            _repeatDelay = _xlate.getRepeatDelay(_keyCode);
         }
 
         /**
@@ -412,8 +413,15 @@ public class KeyboardManager
             if (_iid == -1 && _pressDelay > 0) {
                 // register an interval to post the key press command
                 // until the key is decidedly released
-                _iid = IntervalManager.register(
-                    this, _pressDelay, null, true);
+                if (_repeatDelay > 0) {
+                    _iid = IntervalManager.register(
+                        this, _repeatDelay, this, false);
+
+                } else {
+                    _iid = IntervalManager.register(
+                        this, _pressDelay, null, true);
+                }
+
                 if (DEBUG_EVENTS) {
                     Log.info("Pressing key [key=" + _keyText + "].");
                 }
@@ -533,6 +541,16 @@ public class KeyboardManager
                 } else if (_lastPress != 0 && _pressCommand != null) {
                     // post the key press command again
                     postPress(now);
+
+                    if (arg == this) {
+                        // this key had a specific repeat delay interval
+                        // that may differ from the once-started repeat
+                        // rate, and so we need to re-register the
+                        // interval to make use of the proper time and to
+                        // continue repeating henceforth
+                        _iid = IntervalManager.register(
+                            this, _pressDelay, null, true);
+                    }
                 }
 
             } else if (id == _siid) {
@@ -621,6 +639,9 @@ public class KeyboardManager
 
         /** The milliseconds to sleep between sending repeat key commands. */
         protected long _pressDelay;
+
+        /** The delay in milliseconds before auto-repeating the key press. */
+        protected long _repeatDelay;
     }
 
     /** An observer operation to notify observers of a key event. */