deskthority

Per this post:

http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8 ... tml#p82758

Futaba were responsible for at least one of the old tall cylindrical (and linear) switches per HaaTa's photos above. The differences, including those with his pics vs those of BBC Micro switches, makes me wonder if these switches, too, were cloned. I doubt we'll ever find out who supplied the switches for the Beeb.

As such, the "normal" (compact, square, inverse U mount) Futaba switch needs a more specific name. (Isn't there also an "inverse Futaba", or is that just a mistaken name for SMK/SMK clone switches with U mount? Ripster proved that some are SMK, but I read something the other day where what appeared to be an SMK U mount was declared to be a clone. Is there anything that didn't get cloned by someone somewhere?)

Anyone encountered a name in the past that would fit? Then we have to get HaaTa to impart his linear Futaba knowledge to the wiki.

Just in relation to "I doubt we'll ever find out who supplied the switches for the Beeb." — I found this:

http://mdfs.net/Archive/BBCMicro/2005/09/14/012246.htm

BBC Micro parts in an electronics catalogue. Well, an excerpt from it, and the guy's website is gone, as is his e-mail address (found it via the Wayback Machine; bounces). The switches are listed as Futaba, SMK, SMK, PED and Wongs/SMK. I found this message through recognising the SMK switches and searching for confirmation. There were two switches used that resemble SMK: slanted stem as has been seen here before, Type 2, and upright stem, Type 4 — nomenclature here: http://8bs.com/insides.htm.

8-bit Software also notes that Type 2 is unreliable — and the catalogue lists two SMK switches, one at 60 p and one at 83 p. Maybe the unreliable one is the cheap one :) (This is the slanted slider one)

Assuming Type 1 is Futaba, that means that Type 3 is "PED", whoever they are.