IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread

[emdude]

The inverted color scheme makes me think Commodore (with Mitsumi, Cherry MX switches, or maybe something else) but I have no clue otherwise.

[atrere]

Okay, so I'm figuring this is SKBM, but... uh... I think pictures will speak far more than words in this case. There's some very weird stuff going on here.

proex.jpg (137.79 KiB) Viewed 4930 times

proex2.jpg (152.63 KiB) Viewed 4930 times

I've heard of one kind of Omnikey clone, but never this... and in black? What in the sweetest of hells is going on? I'm pretty tempted to get this just to find out... even if supposedly, it doesn't work without some proprietary software.

[ohaimark]

I don't think this is an Omnikey clone. It almost certainly has Alps clones, as it appears to have been released around '93.

I recommend picking them up. They look fun -- all those redundant function keys. hah

[Chyros]

I haven't got a clue what that it, but it looks fantastic!

[Touch_It]

http://edsgoodstuff.com/edscart/index.p ... ts_id=1584


I know its not a model M, but no idea what it is. Guessing something crappy but curious.

[XMIT]

I know its not a model M, but no idea what it is. Guessing something crappy but curious.

The FTxx code on the back of the keyboard (in this case FT15) tells you this one is foam and foil.

[seebart]

The inverted color scheme makes me think Commodore (with Mitsumi, Cherry MX switches, or maybe something else) but I have no clue otherwise.

keyboards-f2/commodre-pc-1-keyboard-t82 ... lit=PC%201

[cumwagondeluxe]

Anyone know what switches these are?
http://naito-pa.life.coocan.jp/blog/HP/oya6.jpg

Look kind of like Peerless, but the mount is different as well as some other details. I wonder if the keycaps from these are topre compatible? The blog I dug that up from seems to indicate that it's a rubberdome style switch, and he talks about needing to apply silicon oil to them so that they don't feel too bad after prolonged use or age..

[ohaimark]

Fujitsu linear Gen. 3 or Fujitsu linear spring over membrane. They're typically quite smooth, so his must have been poorly kept or unlubed from the factory.

[seebart]

Fujitsu linear Gen. 3 or Fujitsu linear spring over membrane. They're typically quite smooth, so his must have been poorly kept or unlubed from the factory.

That's right, Fujitsu Leaf Spring Gen. 3 is just about the exact opposite of Peerless in terms of smoothness.

[Chyros]

FLS is super smooth. Heavily used ones bind a bit, but they shouldn't feel scratchy at all, even if dirty. Shouldn't be lubed though; I suspect that will make them worse.

[cumwagondeluxe]

If you guys are curious, this is the blog entry I was talking about:
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/bongore789/e/dd5f ... 1027e47b22

There's a couple of the boards up on y!jp for fairly cheap, kind of tempted to grab one now that I know it's FLS

[seebart]

FLS is super smooth. Heavily used ones bind a bit, but they shouldn't feel scratchy at all, even if dirty. Shouldn't be lubed though; I suspect that will make them worse.

Agreed, there is ablosutely no reason to use lube on FLS 3rd gen switches, would be quite silly to do so.

There's a couple of the boards up on y!jp for fairly cheap, kind of tempted to grab one now that I know it's FLS

I can't see any price but if it's worth it to you sure. I mean I love the way this looks, the layout alone...

oya2.jpg (98.85 KiB) Viewed 4777 times

[ohaimark]

It may be Fujitsu leaf spring over membrane. Don't discount that possibility.

[seebart]

It may be Fujitsu leaf spring over membrane. Don't discount that possibility.

Yes true, thanks for reminding. Actually looking at that keyboard it would not suprise me as it looks "younger".

[Harshmallow]

Doh, pad printing with selective image coating.

Seeing it more closely, I'm now pretty certain actually it is a Chicony KB-5181.

What do you think? Is it PCB Mount? I see it as a brownisch sheet of idk what. PCB or Metal Mingplate.

My Chicony KB-5181 has a black plate with SMK 'Monterey' Blues mounted in it. Fantastic switches...flimsy feeling case. But the whole thing is in very good condition, so I still very much enjoy typing on it.

[seebart]

Doh, pad printing with selective image coating.

Seeing it more closely, I'm now pretty certain actually it is a Chicony KB-5181.

What do you think? Is it PCB Mount? I see it as a brownisch sheet of idk what. PCB or Metal Mingplate.

My Chicony KB-5181 has a black plate with SMK 'Monterey' Blues mounted in it. Fantastic switches...flimsy feeling case. But the whole thing is in very good condition, so I still very much enjoy typing on it.

I know what you mean, I love SMK Alps mount.

[Wodan]

Saw this link for a Chicony:
http://allegro.pl/klawiatura-mechaniczn ... 25507.html

What Cherry Clone is that?

[ohaimark]

I have no idea.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Saw this link for a Chicony … What Cherry Clone is that?

[wiki]Taiwan white and black shaft[/wiki], either type 2B or 3 depending on the internals. Most likely made by Aristotle, as that's the only company Chicony remember using. (What we call Aristotle is type 6.)

[manna]

Do you guys know what kind of magnetic reader this is? The keyboard is a G80-1800. I don't know which model exactly since the label is unreadable

[Lynx_Carpathica]

Do you guys know what kind of magnetic reader this is? The keyboard is a G80-1800. I don't know which model exactly since the label is unreadable

Did you get this from ebay? I have the exact same model with the reader, only with Black switches.

[Harshmallow]

Saw this link for a Chicony … What Cherry Clone is that?

[wiki]Taiwan white and black shaft[/wiki], either type 2B or 3 depending on the internals. Most likely made by Aristotle, as that's the only company Chicony remember using. (What we call Aristotle is type 6.)

Yeah that definitely looks exactly like the Aristotle housing in the Wiki picture (wiki/Aristotle_Cherry_MX_clone)...and that switch whore of a 5191/5192 board has been known to contain Aristotle switches.

[manna]

Do you guys know what kind of magnetic reader this is? The keyboard is a G80-1800. I don't know which model exactly since the label is unreadable

Did you get this from ebay? I have the exact same model with the reader, only with Black switches.

Yes, some seller from Germany. Mine had Cherry mx black switches too, I just swapped stem and top casing with blue Gaterons

[mike52787]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Identity-System ... fresh=true
Any ideas? looks like a chicony to me.

[emdude]

I believe Harshmallow noted it looked like a Chicony KB-5181 in another thread.

[mike52787]

Oh, I didnt see that. I thank that's too much to pay for a 5181 anyway.

[Harshmallow]

Oh, I didnt see that. I thank that's too much to pay for a 5181 anyway.

Yeah it's almost certainly a 5181 - I have the same board at home. They're kinda fun - it's like gambling with switch types...or a box of chocolates as Forrest Gump would put it - ya never know whatcha gonna get! But I'd agree with you...not at that price. Make the seller an offer they can't refuse!

BTW, I'm surprised this Fujitsu leaf spring board is still here...at this price it seems like a fair deal. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Keyboar ... 1279473068

[ohaimark]

I've seen them for cheaper. People avoid that particular variant because it's a pain to convert.

[Harshmallow]

I've seen them for cheaper. People avoid that particular variant because it's a pain to convert.

I see - I thought it might be AT/XT with that DIN plug in the photo, but I guess not. Just got confirmation that my Tandem has already shipped. It's the global shipping program, which might add an extra day, but I still tend to get boards between 3-5 business days to Toronto from the US.