deskthority

Let's see who knows their stuff.
Here are a bunch of keycaps.

• What switch? FYI, there are only 2 MX Switches above, using it as a guess unless you are sure is just a copout...
• Printing type (Dye Sub, Multi-Shot, Pad Printed, Engraved)
• Full points for naming the keyboard too

Some of them are REALLY easy, others, not so much...

1.


2.


3.


4. Honeywell Hall effect 1A8S, Doubleshot, TI Telex 58SD17-2-B


5.

Yes, this one is pretty much solid plastic...

6.


7.


8.


9. Fujitsu Leaf Spring Switch 2nd generation, Doubleshot, Epson QX-10 Keyboard Q703C-AA


10.


11.


12.


13.


14. Keytronic But what keyboard?


15.


16. Doubleshot; Atari; MX Black


17. SMK (Circle with cross slider) Which keyboard/brand? (This one is semi-common)


18.


19. Amstrad CPC keyboard (which Amstrad membrane switches)


20. NMB (Clicky in this case, but it's pretty much impossible to tell from this pic)


21.


22.


23.


24. Fujitsu Leaf Spring, Dye sub, Fujitsu -> MAI Basic Four


25. Quotron, uses Scantlin switches


26.


27.


28.


29. BTC Foam'n'Foil


30.


31.


32.


33.


34.


35.


36.


37.


38.


39. Futaba Tactile, Datatrain


40.


41.


42.


43.


If some of them prove to be too difficult, I'll post more image hints.

Edit1: Adding numbers for easier parsing.
Edit2: Updating with correct guesses

1. ?, Doubleshot
2. ?, Doubleshot
3. ?
4. Honeywell Hall effect 1A8S, Doubleshot, TI Telex 58SD17-2-B.
5. Picture didn't load.
6. ?, Doubleshot
7. Picture didn't load
8. ?, Doubleshot
9. Fujitsu Leaf Spring Switch 2nd generation, Doubleshot, Epson QX-10 Keyboard Q703C-AA
10. ?, Doubleshot
11. Picture didn't load
12. Picture didn't load
13. Picture didn't load
14. Picture didn't load
15. ?, Doubleshot
16. Cherry MX, Doubleshot,
17. (Fuck the cherry mx limit), doubleshot/dye sub
18. Picture didn't load
19.?, Padprinted
20. Picture didn't load
21. ?, Dyesub
22. Picture didn't load
23. Picture didn't load
24. Fujitsu Leaf Spring, Dye sub?, Fujitsu
25. Picture didn't load
26. ?, not doubleshot
27. ?, lasered
28. Picture didn't load
29. Chicony, pad printed
30. ?, Not doubleshot
31. ?, Not doubleshot
32. Cherry M8, Blank, None
33. ?, doubleshot
34. ?, dyesub
35. Picture didn't load
36. Cherry MX, doubleshot,
37. ?, doubleshot
38. Rubber dome,
39. Rubber dome, triple/doubleshot
40. ?, doubleshot
41. ?, pad printed
42. ?, doubleshot
43. Picture didn't load

I got sick half way through so I stopped researching switches.

[quote="rodtang"]...
14. Key Tronic
...

Some Cherrys are obvious (Amiga).


This must be the 2nd Cherry.



Here is a graphic showing keyboard knowledge.

Please consider all the white background of this page to be part of the graphic.

rodtang wrote:1. ?, Doubleshot
2. ?, Doubleshot
3. ?
4. Honeywell Hall effect 1A8S, Doubleshot, TI Telex 58SD17-2-B.
5. Picture didn't load.
6. ?, Doubleshot
7. Picture didn't load
8. ?, Doubleshot
9. Fujitsu Leaf Spring Switch 2nd generation, Doubleshot, Epson QX-10 Keyboard Q703C-AA
10. ?, Doubleshot
11. Picture didn't load
12. Picture didn't load
13. Picture didn't load
14. Picture didn't load
15. ?, Doubleshot
16. Cherry MX, Doubleshot,
17. (Fuck the cherry mx limit), doubleshot/dye sub
18. Picture didn't load
19.?, Padprinted
20. Picture didn't load
21. ?, Dyesub
22. Picture didn't load
23. Picture didn't load
24. Fujitsu Leaf Spring, Dye sub?, Fujitsu
25. Picture didn't load
26. ?, not doubleshot
27. ?, lasered
28. Picture didn't load
29. Chicony, pad printed
30. ?, Not doubleshot
31. ?, Not doubleshot
32. Cherry M8, Blank, None
33. ?, doubleshot
34. ?, dyesub
35. Picture didn't load
36. Cherry MX, doubleshot,
37. ?, doubleshot
38. Rubber dome,
39. Rubber dome, triple/doubleshot
40. ?, doubleshot
41. ?, pad printed
42. ?, doubleshot
43. Picture didn't load

I got sick half way through so I stopped researching switches.

Heh. Pretty good, I'll point out the incorrect guess

16. Cherry MX, Doubleshot, <- Correct, but the shape of the keycap should make the keyboard semi easy to guess
17. (Fuck the cherry mx limit), doubleshot/dye sub <- lolol, this is one of the ones for the MX keycap masters no dye sub, but yes doubleshot
27. ?, lasered <- Nope
29. Chicony, pad printed <- Not Chicony, but it is pad printed
32. Cherry M8, Blank, None <- Wrong, wrong, wrong (this is one of the hard ones)
39. Rubber dome, triple/doubleshot <- Wrong, just a double shot (not nearly as hard as 32)

And please let me know if pics aren't loading...they are picasa links, all of them, so they should work.

HaaTa wrote: 16. Cherry MX, Doubleshot, <- Correct, but the shape of the keycap should make the keyboard semi easy to guess

It would if I'd remember seeing it before.

7bit wrote: 14. Key Tronic
...

Some Cherrys are obvious (Amiga).


This must be the 2nd Cherry.

Yes, but it isn't Amiga Good guess though.
I'm pretty sure I'm the only one with one of these on either GeekHack and Deskthority. Found it at a surplus/junk store in Sunnyvale California.

7bit wrote: Here is a graphic showing keyboard knowledge.

Please consider all the white background of this page to be part of the graphic.

and here's hoping I can get my hands on the rest of the blank space .

rodtang wrote:

HaaTa wrote: 16. Cherry MX, Doubleshot, <- Correct, but the shape of the keycap should make the keyboard semi easy to guess

It would if I'd remember seeing it before.

it's some sort of Atari, wasn't aware they used cherry mx switches, need to buy one

I didn't say the 2nd Cherry is an Atari keyboard.

mintberryminuscrunch wrote:

rodtang wrote:

HaaTa wrote: 16. Cherry MX, Doubleshot, <- Correct, but the shape of the keycap should make the keyboard semi easy to guess

It would if I'd remember seeing it before.

it's some sort of Atari, wasn't aware they used cherry mx switches, need to buy one

Yup! Found this one at an ewaste dump spot. Probably only the ones with keycaps like this have Cherry MX switches.

HaaTa wrote:

mintberryminuscrunch wrote:

rodtang wrote:[...]
It would if I'd remember seeing it before.

it's some sort of Atari, wasn't aware they used cherry mx switches, need to buy one

Yup! Found this one at an ewaste dump spot. Probably only the ones with keycaps like this have Cherry MX switches.

can you post the model? there are so many, with different switches.

This one is an ATW800 US, has a 6P6C connector (telephone), it was for an Atari Workstation.

Didn't realize Atari made workstations. Photo of the ATW800 http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/19 ... -question/

19 amstrad CPC keyboard

Give me a hint!

Any work with a IBM PC?

<impressive server image loading performance WebWit!>

Atari is interesting, I only remember awful feeling membrane boards. The 1040ST looks like identical keyboard, any idea if it actually is?

Ascaii wrote:19 amstrad CPC keyboard

正解！ (Correct)

ripster wrote:Give me a hint!

Any work with a IBM PC?

Directly (AT, PS/2, or USB)? 10
Converters? 7

ripster wrote: <impressive server image loading performance Google!>

Corrected that for ya

Let me guess. 15 would be the caps from a variant of the alter Tandy Color Computer. Looks like the one from a Color Computer 3.

Double shot, but the black is not true black and has a nice little smoky shade.

HoboBob wrote:Let me guess. 15 would be the caps from a variant of the alter Tandy Color Computer. Looks like the one from a Color Computer 3.

Double shot, but the black is not true black and has a nice little smoky shade.

Good guess! And there are a couple Tandy keyboards here. But that one...well, is pretty evil. Not sure if anyone has seen it before. Came with a "portable" computer.

I am guessing 17 is either some Chinese MX board (NanTan, Chicony) or actually not a MX Board but rather round SMK/inverse Futaba (Datatrain, LeadingEdge)?

sixty wrote:I am guessing 17 is either some Chinese MX board (NanTan, Chicony) or actually not a MX Board but rather round SMK/inverse Futaba (Datatrain, LeadingEdge)?

It's confirmed MX, look up.

sixty wrote:I am guessing 17 is either some Chinese MX board (NanTan, Chicony) or actually not a MX Board but rather round SMK/inverse Futaba (Datatrain, LeadingEdge)?

Technically, sixty is closer . It is an SMK. Any guesses on the keyboard brand?

The keyboards with Cherry MX switches are 16 and 36. Everything else just "looks"/is compatible with Cherry MX.

As for IBM keyboards, there are 2.
Any pics with stuff other than the keycaps in it, are huge hints.

I'd gamble 37 to be one of the IBMs (based on the likeness to a selectric II cap).
And another very wild guess would be on 33 being from a Commodore (based on the shapes on the cap).

off wrote:I'd gamble 37 to be one of the IBMs (based on the likeness to a selectric II cap).
And another very wild guess would be on 33 being from a Commodore (based on the shapes on the cap).

Nope, incorrect on both accounts.
37, definitely not an IBM keycap, though definitely very early 80's if not late 70's.

33, is evil. It's MX Compatible, but has really nothing to do with Cherry stuff at all, not even remotely close to a clone. A big hint, the switch is made in Mexico.

33 is Maxiswitch, the Mexico gives it away. Also if I remember the IRC discussions the same switch has appeared under other manufacturers.

Daemon Raccoon wrote:33 is Maxiswitch, the Mexico gives it away. Also if I remember the IRC discussions the same switch has appeared under other manufacturers.

Ooo, didn't expect that answer.
But nope, not Maxiswitch. Truth be told, I have no idea which company manufactured the switch. But it has been seen on multiple keyboards made by different companies. I even have some "loose" switch examples that I got last year. There is also a lockable variant. And pics do exist of this switch.

39. Futaba. BSR / Datatrain?
25. Quotron?

Damn, 29 is the only one I think I know off the top of my head.

And HaaTa I was about to add you to my GeekHack sig as the #1 Vintage Expert On The Planet! But....well, I promised WebWit to let it go and stay ON TOPIC!
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?2966 ... post602466

Btw TEN Pc compatibles! That is what surprised me, I thought it would be TWO!

What about Apple Compatible?
http: //geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=29985

REVENGE wrote:39. Futaba. BSR / Datatrain?
25. Quotron?

Correct on both .

If I get a moment today, I'll update the first post with the correct guesses. By my rough count, still 25 not reasonably guessed at yet...

Damn, I just edited 39 to 29!

So is 29 a BTC rubber dome?
http: //geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=25890

Edit, damn this attachment thing. Will fix when on my PC.